The big deal about the Royal Wedding

So I am sure that those of you really know me did not have to question whether or not I awoke to watch The Royal Wedding.... I DID! In fact I awoke an hour earlier than I anticipated needing too. I loved it... I loved every single minute of it. However once it was over and done with I wish it really would have been OVER AND DONE WITH. I did not need to flip through it on replay ALL day long.

As my sister-in-law Darrah and I shopped for our gazillion snacks we thought we would need to keep us excited for the event, the girl at the cash register was dumbfounded that 1. we were getting up to watch the event and 2. that we were spending money on that many snacks for it. She went on to talk about the ridiculousness of CELEBRITY and that they should not get all that they have and hardly have to work for it. While walking out we felt like we had just been judged and berated by a teenager. 

Now I have been known to be a bit of a CELEBRITY NUTZO... lets just say I can NEVER live in LA because my mind could not take all the proximity to big stars. However the Royals are way more than just celebrity. They are a staple... a TRADITION. The Royal families have been ruling Europe for centuries. They are not some Britney Spears who released a pop song and proceeded to crash into drugs. They are not even some Kate Winslet who is an acclaimed actress and won many awards but is just one actress living her life. They are Centuries and Centuries of TRADITION and FAMILY.

You cannot just simply become a royal like it is so easy to become famous... just be rich or get on a "reality tv show" I am still trying to figure out why the Kardashians are celebrities. You must marry into the Royal family or be born to it. This is the most exclusive club there is. Not to mention that although I know they are more of a figurehead than actual decision maker... what they do shapes history. 

America would not have been founded had it not been for the taxes the British monarchy was imposing on people. We in America had the opportunity to establish our own royalty but opted not to.

Even more than their tradition... this is LIVING HISTORY. History was always my favorite subject and I love history movies, books, documentaries. This is the kind of History that you tell your children about. These are memories that last with your forever. 

I guess as far as I can remember the fascination with British Royalty began for me, with my mother. I remember her telling me about how she woke up early in the morning to watch Princess Di and Prince Charles wed. I remember listening to her in the early hours of August 31 as she called her parents to tell them that Princess Diana had passed away, them too up watching the news. I remember eating with my brothers, mom, and grandparents at an AppleBee's in Brentwood, TN the next day and knowing that something horribly sad had happened and this was an event that would change the world.

I guess I may be taking this all a bit seriously because at the heart of it, it is simply a love story. And that is the other fasination... this was just a boy at college who fell in love with a girl and 8 years later after has married. Just a boy who one day will rule a country and a country girl who will support him and love him. This is the ultimate Love Story. Coming from a horrendous broken marriage of his parents to picking the perfect mate. For her the sacrifice of a normal life to live with envasion of peering eyes and having every moment exposed to spend the rest of her life with her soulmate. 

But also not to mention the fashion of the event. 

 

I especially appreciated the classiness of the dress... no sleezy dresses with spaghetti straps, strapless, to short short, or major cleavage. Everyone was elegantly dressed and properly covered. I think we could take a major hint from that and bring it back to the US... as well as the hats!

I do not regret one single minute of waking up at 4 am to watch history in the making. One day I will tell my own daughter what I was doing the day Prince William wed his Princess Catherine, just as my mom has told me about his parents wedding. 

 

1. Peyton watching as the Prince's were driving in their Rolls Royce to the Chapel

2. She was as captivated as all of us when Catherine got out of the car and revealed her dress.

3. A little bored with all the ceremonial stuff

4. Waving to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they left the chapel in their carriage.

 

Mom even got up to watch.

Darrah was enchanted by the event as well... she too remembers watching Princess Diana and Prince Charles wed.

Followed up the viewing party with a big ole nap!

Squeakers for the squeaker

I have a problem... and no it is not that I have complete anxiety issues about the upcoming Royal Wedding... my problem is that it has been 6 days and I have been biting at the bits to do any sort of craft project

Luckily I had a perfect opportunity today. Peyton needed some new squeaky brown shoes cause the little runner blew her others out. They did not have any but the plain brown Mary Janes and I had a wonderful idea to spruce them up with some flowers.

Today after hitting up Tjmaxx AGAIN and Ross. I ran into Joanns to get some multi-functional colors to go with every outfit my little 18 month old niece owns... ok maybe not everyone but a lot of them. I got light pink, light green, soft yellow, and white.

 

Of course as soon as I put the trial pair on Peyton she tore them off and the dog started to eat them off the floor. So to say the least I am still trying to figure out how to "baby proof" them.

Observations

 

Today was a wonderfully chill day... it started off Stormy and with a quick trip to Sam's followed up by some Starbucks, meeting my brother for lunch and finally TJMAXX to finish up, to say the least...we had a great day. 

Since I have been here there are a few observations that I would like to note...

Military Families are an entirely different type of family and yet do not live at all in the rigid structure I thought they did. (Or atleast I haven't seen it yet) I have been put in awe by the amount of LOVE and SUPPORT the wives and husbands in this community have for each other.

 

 

At the center of my observations are my big brother and his wonderful wife. They truly have a beautiful relationship of support and understanding of the job each has signed up for. It is no easy fete being a "Army wife" and it takes a woman who is strong, independent, and can handle a man well. My sister-in-law is that such woman and she does it all with an adoring look in her eye toward my brother. 

I have noticed that the wives here in this community are the MOST aware of the sacrifices their husbands have signed up for. They are the proudest of all to see the men they love stand up and fight for freedom, to protect our rights.  They are the ones who are here on the homefront raising their children to honor and respect the country and freedom that their father's are fighting for.

 A soldiers job is one of the biggest sacrifices anyone can make. To offer to leave their families for months, years at a time to fight for the rights of many who abuse it. To devote your lives to the military while you are in it, to follow their rules and regulations. 

I do not pretend AT ALL to know what their lives are like on a everyday basis but I wish that couples who were not faced with the reality that they will be separated for months at a time or that their spouse could die in battle would be reminded to look at each other with such love and adoration or even respect and support as I have witnessed here.

 I have LOVED watching these family unit that these soldiers and their wives have made, especially my brother and his!

 

On another note... here is the life expectancy of a toy with an 18 month old... above is a lovely little doo dad that Nana picked up for Peyton at TJMAXX. She LOVED it and it kept her pretty well entertained for about.... well....

 

Maybe 3 minutes...

 Peyton got intrigued by Nana and her makeup and the toy is left for dead in the toy graveyard.

 

And I just want to say how much I absolutely LOVE and ADORE this woman! As I am reminded more and more everyday by people around me how much we look alike I am truly honored to be her daughter! I know I know mother's day is coming so I will save the rest for that :)

Southern Pines

 

Today we drove over to Southern Pines to walk around their downtown and have lunch. Peyton had to have a snacky on the way there and got a wee bit cheesy.

 

We had lunch at the Bell Tavern with some yummy Southern Sweet Tea. 

One night about a year or so ago I called Ryan and he was making Shrimp and Grits for dinner. I thought he was kidding with me... Shrimp and Grits who in the world has ever heard of that before?!! CRAZY! Well turns out it is quite the popular item in the South.... (I have never really understood why these states are called the south, I mean Texas is as South as you can get in the US, except for FL I guess.) Anyway I had to try Shrimp and Grits for lunch today.

 

And let me just tell you isn't was not bad... but I think I have had my fill. Something about eating that much grits for a mean just didn't satisfy. I am glad I tried it though so I can say I did.

The Downtown of Southern Pines was so stinking cute. It was so much like Franklin, TN. Just lots of cute shops lining the streets with a train track running down the middle.  

 

 

The Photographer in me definitely came out...

 

 

 

The streets were lined with the amazingly tall magnolia trees that were sprouting off everywhere. 

(I do realize the above tree is not a Magnolia tree but I really liked it)

 

My Beautiful mom was such a sport to pose for me!

And I even talked Ryan, Darrah and Peyton into a mini photoshoot as well.

 

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Such a wonderful day exploring... we came home and took naps, grabbed some taco bell, got some cookies to bake and watched Peyton play.

Happy Easter

This Easter Sunday was spent with my brother and his sweet family.

The morning started out with a little Easter basket for Peyton and me giving her the tutu I made her... the tutu looked much better before I stuffed it in a suitcase but luckily she loved it just the same...

 

 However despite the 10 yards of fabric it was still a little too short for her waist...

 

Ryan got up at 3 to put his pork butt on the grill to smoke, by the time I got up at 10 he was on his way to making strawberry shortcake Perini style with strawberries he got from a local farm

 

 

Ryan was so proud of his pork... I will admit I was originally turned off by the idea of pork butt but it turned out to be insanely delicious.

 

Darrah made some amazing home made mac & cheese that  I will definitely try when I get home, turns out it is super duper easy.

 

The Pernini recipe for Strawberry Shortcake calls for heavy cream instead of whipping cream... we all voted to have some whipping cream instead and taught Ryan how to make Nanas... he kept asking for the recipe for Nana's but we told him it was a family secret. Basically we didn't know just to add a little of this and a little of that till its just right.

Peyton tried her some and absolutely loved it.

 

The rest of the day has been spent eating and hanging out with Ryan and Darrah's friends here... but I have mostly been taking a gazillion photos of Peyton 

 

 

Ryan's Strawberry Shortcake turned out delicious with his homemade biscuits, homemade whipping cream and handpicked strawberries...

I hope all have had an absolutely WONDERFUL EASTER and remember the reason for the day...

HE IS RISEN!

And just a warning the next blog posts will definitely have lots and lots of photos :)

Neeley

Happy Birthday Neeley!!

 

When I try to describe the people in my life who mean the most to me it is difficult to come up with the right words but I feel I can somehow manage... with Neeley there are truly no words to describe her or our relationship except to say "She is my Person!!"

She understands my moods before I do, 

She knows what I need or want before I do,

She waits at street corners for me because she is worried about me walking alone to the corner store,

She knows what I am thinking without me having to tell her, 

She is my encourager, 

Protector, Confidante, Friend, Sister, and Soulmate.

Neeley has taught me more about living life to the fullest than anyone else,

She has taught me to be brave... stand on your own two feet,

She has taught me the meaning true beauty...inside and out,

She has taught me to accept the gift of inspiration,

Neeley has taught me to never settle.

I know that no matter where I am in life, what conundrum I have gotten myself into she will be the one right by my side for better or worse holding my hand and walking through it with me.

We were not born sisters (and some extremely annoying people like to point that out but that just means YOU DONT GET IT!) but there could never be two sisters closer than me and mine.

She is who I fight the hardest with and love to the most extreme. 

We have been through just about everything together and I am confident have only remained standing because of the support between us. There is a love and support that will never fail.

So today I want to celebrate the person who lives in the room next to mine, 

who has to move my car sometimes in the morning before she goes to school.

The person who sits and trys on all of my crafties before anyone else,

who wakes me up on saturday mornings to get breakfast.

I want to celebrate my best friend!

Happy Birthday Neeley! 

You could never ever be replaced!

I hope that today you embrace the gift that another year has been given to you and not focus on the age, I hope you are emmersed in Love from all those whose lives you touch on a daily basis.

Today we celebrate Neeley!

 

* I had thought at first about posting a ton of pictures of her but she would have HATED that... So I am just posting two of my favorites, she still probably wont like it but tough...its my blog.