It's Relay season!

Since August and September communities and schools around the nation have been preparing for Relay for Life. The incredible night of walking and sharing and community togetherness has been around for almost 20 years and it's the perfect time to honor those loved ones you have lost and join the fight for those still living.

Visit the America Cancer Society Website for more info :-)

Get involved, people!

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

Oh yeah, that's mine...

I enjoy camping, when the weather is nice. And I enjoy venison when it's covered in taco seasoning and squished between the sides of a hard shell taco. I also enjoy Thanksgiving. I eat Turkey, I eat stuffing, potatoes etc. I also know where my food originated..at least generally. However, I am a city kid. I lived in the suburbs of Anchorage Kentucky until I was 9 and now my family lives about 15 minutes from Downtown Tampa Florida. I know more about L-trains and trolley, bus passes and parking meters than most people know about their own siblings. So let me reiterate, I am a city kid.

This morning after my 40 minute drive from Nashville to the small Robertson County town in which I teach, I was startled to see- in the parking space next to me, a small gray pick-up truck. Through the passenger seat window I could see feathers. Not a few multi colored synthetic feathers you might find in my Kindergarten craft box, but in fact a full fan of brown, tan, reddish colored feather.

"Whoa!" I thought, "What the heck is that??"

I hopped out of my SUV such that I was now a little above eye level with the passenger side door of this truck. And OH DEAR LORD it wasn't just the feathers, it was the WHOLE FREAKIN' BIRD!!
People, I was stunned. Instinctively, I said, "Oh my God!" (a little louder than I intended) and the 3rd grade teacher parked on the other side of me kindly popped her head around the front of the car and asked me if I was alright.

"This truck has a WHOLE turkey, in the PASSANGER SEAT...not the bed of the truck but in the cab, in the passenger seat....You know, like the place where his girlfriend sits!!"

And as if it was nothing at all the other teaching simply said, "oh yeah, it's turkey season." It was as if I had said nothing at all, she was not surprised or alarmed or even amused by the dead foul in the truck cab! I bolted into the building and into the cafeteria where the other teachers on my team were waiting for morning meeting to begin and while panting and laughing and shaking, I re-told the story (hoping for a better reaction the second time around) and as the story came to an end, Mr. B, one of our subs said, "Oh yeah that's mine!"

!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?

"What I said?!?!?!?! WHAT??? BRANDON, why is there a dead bird in your passenger seat, in the parking lot of our elementary school????"

Much to my delight, the tables of teachers began to laugh, and honestly at this point, so did I. It seems so normal to them and for me this was TRAUMATIZING!

"Elizabeth, it's just my decoy" he said
"What??"
"Well, it's a decoy, it's plastic. It's not like I shot it on my way to school this morning and through it into the cab so that the dogs couldn't get it..."

At this point I about died. The school resource officer was rolling on the floor laughing. The Principal was watching my arms flail wildly and most of the students were observing my melt down with perplexed expressions.

Listen people, in Tampa, Florida people do not drive to work with GIGANTIC turkey bird in their passenger seats. Plastic or Real! Welcome to northern Tennessee I suppose!

**As a side note, if you know my Mother, visualize this...Terri drives to downtown Tampa to Rampello Downtown Partnership School, she parks her little blue car in the parking garage across the street from the Bank of America building. And next to her is a DEAD TURKEY in a Mercedes?!?!?! It would just never happen, never.

Happy Hump Day.

My "must have" list for the spring and summer of 2010!

1. Every girl needs a gorgeous ballet flat. I picked a floral print from J.Crew that could easily go from day to night with its adorable gold interior and its brightly colored exterior. These J. Crew babies are $298. So if you're really wanting a high quality splurge, go for it! However, Target is selling a strikingly similar flat for $12.99 (that's a little more my style!)


2. Dell has recently begun creating Laptops in color! Even now I am using my gorgeous "breast cancer" pink Inspiron to share this list with you! The come in a huge array of colors so if the pink princess computer isn't exactly your style there are many more from which you may choose! These little computer lolliepops start around $599.




3. Bath and Body Works has been creating out standing smell goodies for years now. And I have been a fan of their C.O. Bigelow(c) line for quite sometime. Every girls needs a shiny, sexy pout so why not "gloss organically"? This line of lip savers comes in a variety of shades, from the clear gloss you want to lather on at the gym to a raspberry mint that acts as a midnight reflector, drawing all kinds of attention when you're out on the town.
The product acts as a breath freshener while it heals your cracked lips with a gentle tingle. Best of all, the glosses start at $7.50 but are regularly on sale!



4. Chunky jewelry is all the rage today, and I have to admit, I'm a HUGE fan! I love the way a bangle looks with a classic cardi or how a multi strand necklace can dress up a fitted T! Target carries this pretty peal multi-strand fashion necklace. I love it, and at only $39.99 any girl can make this an accessory staple. Click the link below and you can order online!
http://http//www.target.com/Fashion-Jewelry-Womens/b/ref=sc_fe_l_2/188-2053108-4002954?ie=UTF8&node=13330751

5. Finally, my 5th Spring and Summer must have.... Tickets to your local minor league baseball games!! Nothing says warm weather like "take me out to the ball game" it's the perfect excuse to slip on some cuffed jeans and your cute new floral flats and drink a beer at the ball park. I'm a huge fan of the Bowling Green Hot Rods but you should find the team nearest you! It's worth a few dollars a game for some quality time with your Summer Beau or Bestie!






Tomorrow: Relay, Broken Feet, and my very own Prince Charming!

A new purpose...

Trapped at 20-something!

I have decided recently, that there are no real lifestyle blogs for girls my age. So often the 20 something woman is drowning in her career, her classes, her marriage or her beer. I am none of these women. I am sitting, waiting and wishing somewhere in the middle. I am unmarried but committed, out of college but still working toward a career, and simply sipping on a weekly glass of wine. So I have decided that Day of Inspiration needs a greater purpose. One that is specific to the needs of women who are keeping their heads above water! I'm planning (key word is planning) to update the blog a little more frequently, and blog about my favorite things; my work (teaching), my hobbies (weddings, crafting, cooking and shopping), my family and my love life.

Starting with some of my new favorite blogs! Check out a few links, and do a little reading, it's surprising to me how much insight one can gain by reading someone else notes :-)

1.) http://www.thefootballwife.com

This blog is written by Sara, the wife of Davidson's head football coach, Tripp Merritt. She is sensational. She writes like a pro and yet, is easily relateable to all kinds of women. The Football Wife (or the FW as she calls herself) prefers a bit of anonymity but still keeps you feeling connected and up to date on her adorable, everyday life. GREAT new mom and wife give-a-ways as well! (something I'm working on myself!)

2.) http://www.mclaypool.typepad.com/rabbitinthemoon

Rabbit in the Moon is this fabulous little mommy & me boutique in Louisville Kentucky. The store is located in The Summit off the Crestwood exit and it is owned by Meagan Claypool, a Sorority sister of mine. Meagan runs this blog about all things adorable. She shares her favorite design ideas and new products in the store. Her taste is impeccable and the products she shares are just to die for!

3.) http://www.ohdeedoh.com

"Home-Design-Children" is the tag line to this fabulous blog. It's linked to a number of other great pages so check it out!

4.) http://www.collegelifestyles.org

My good friend, Sara Puckett, is one of the writers for this 20-something college blog. Her features are pretty specific to sororities but the other posts are wildly diverse. With tabs on Nutrition, Fashion, Etiquette & Careers this blog is great for the college girl on the go. It's age appropriate without being overly campy and dorm room focused. Share it with a 20 something you know!

I'll be back on tomorrow! I'm hoping to share some new photos of my favorite things. With J.Crew and Old Navy releasing their new summer lines, I can hardly make a "top 5 must have list"...it may HAVE to be 10! ;-)