Idiosyncracies

1. I really don't enjoy takeout. If I'm going to eat restaurant food, I get irrationally annoyed if it's at my own kitchen table.
2. I'm obsessed with flossing; however, I get irritated if I don't find anything to floss out.
3. Ditto with cotton swabbing... no wax? Waste of time. I know I'm gross.
4. I swab Sadie's ears almost daily. I claim it's in the name of ear infection prevention. In reality, I just like to do it.
5. Bar soap makes me itchy. I don't think it actually does, but I've convinced my body to have this reaction, so I can justify paying more for pleasantly-odored body washes instead.
6. At all times Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, both of my blogs, and at least one celebrity gossip site is open and active on my Web browser.
7. I read celebrity gossip sites in the exact same order every. single. morning. People then Us Weekly then Bricks & Stones Gossip then CocoPerez then Perez Hilton then PopSugar. Never varies.
8. I never write in print. Cursive always.
9. When I get bored in meetings, I diagram the facilitator's sentences in the notebook in which I should be taking notes. I wish I could get paid to diagram sentences (but not in a teaching role).
10. I get ready every morning to SportsCenter. As soon as my alarm goes off, it's on the TV. Steve Levy and John Anderson are my favorite duo. Neil Everett and Stan Verrett are runners up. Sorry, Buccigross. It is also common knowledge that I have a bad hair day every time Linda Cohn is an anchor.

Rule #31 - Things That Go Crunch

When inserting a CD into your computer's drive, said disc should insert smoothly. If you are meeting with resistance and hearing a crunching or grinding noise as you push, you should probably check to make sure there isn't anything else residing in said drive. Computers don't like having two CD's shackin' in the same drive. Or maybe they like it too much, since neither will eject.

Hello, my name is Polka Dots & Protein Bars, and I am a technological guru.

Many, Many Thanks

For all of your prayers, thoughts and words of encouragement. This weekend was such an emotional rollercoaster. Aunt Adrienne has been struggling mightily. The doctors have said the fact that she's alive right now is a miracle. Everything that could go wrong with a double lung transplant has for her, and they're still battling to keep her vitals steady, her internal bleeding controlled, and her status improving. The fear now is that the circulation has been cut off to her extremities for some reason, and she may lose her fingers or hands. Compared to what we most feared over the weekend, I think we'll all take that as heartbreaking as it may be.

In the meantime, news about Mimi and Papaw is more sporadic, but not incredibly encouraging. I have faith that God will move, though.

This week should be a busy one, but after an overall fantastic weekend (wine, Wii, opera, church, s'mores, new fabric, time with Sis and the beau... wow!), I am feeling energized and ready to tackle it head on. I hope that each of you enjoy your week and are able to find a sliver of sunshine in everything you encounter.

My Highest Appeal

This Sunday Pastor Furtick taught us that prayer should not be thought of as a last resort ("All we can do now is pray") but recognized as our highest appeal. How appropriate to hear this week, as right now, I am appealing with my whole heart.

As many of you know, my Papa passed away in October. On Christmas day, his wife, my sweet and sassy Mimi, had a severe stroke and has been struggling ever since. In the meantime, one of their three daughters has been battling non-smoking lung cancer and was placed on the transplant list. We received word tonight that she is on her way to the Dallas hospital for a transplant. At the same time, Mimi will be undergoing surgery to insert a pacemaker first thing in the morning.

Add to the stress, worry and emotions that my other grandfather, my Papaw, has been warring against incredibly aggressive melanoma that has spread to his lungs, blood and other areas of his body. His prognosis has been grim as melanoma is an extremely difficult cancer to fight, but he has been an absolute hero through this ordeal and is currently in Bethesda, MD hoping to be admitted to a clinical trial at the National Cancer Institute.

I have been so blessed with an incredible family, and we're all under stress and heartache at the moment coping with each of these situations. What a comfort to know that my God is moving and active and answering my prayer even when I'm not aware of it.

Cheddar, Swiss, Gouda

I spent my Martin Luther King holiday with the beau and his sweet sister who took the amazing Hems & Hers shots seen a few posts below. We went to his hometown and took some fun, "coupley" shots. I was so pleased with the outcome of our day off together! Extra cheesy, but for once, I don't care! Smiles!

This Is the Start of Something New

Excuse the HSM (yes, that is code for High School Musical) reference in the title, but I'm thrilled to announce the opening of my Hems & Hers Etsy shop! While I love bringing clients' ideas to life with custom garments, I'm branching out to start creating my own pieces to have as inventory. These skirts and dresses reflect my own personal style and fashion, and, as such, I'm ecstatic about the grand opening of my shop! If you have any questions about any of the listings, don't hesitate to contact me. Check back often for new designs and styles and, of course, shop shop shop away!

Sneak Peek

What I've Learned This Week

1. Sometimes your body will shut down on you and force you to get sleep. It can be a very good thing.
2. When you earnestly seek the heart and will of God, He will reveal Himself to you.
3. Just because you think you have reached emotional closure over something, does not mean that you have. You'll be surprised when the scab is ripped away to realize it isn't hasn't healed yet.
4. The people the Lord places in your life are there for a reason. Every time. Even if you can't see it at that moment.
5. Consequently, the people in my life right now are beyond amazing and some of the most uplifting, supportive and encouraging that I've ever met.
6. I can force myself to smile through lots and lots and lots of things no matter how beat down I am.
7. Worry is as much a sin as adultery, lying and idolatry. It's also my greatest struggle.
8. Scripture is alive and moving.
9. Gym-bound resolutioners are every bit as irritating to me this year as they were last year.
10. When I get excited about something, it completely consumes my thoughts (cough*photoshoot*cough)

Say Cheese!

Does it seem like this corner of the blog world is dying a slow, painful death? It certainly does to me. I've just lost my blogging spark. I wish I knew where to find it or how to do the Spark-Come-Back shimmy and shake. I thought maybe the new year would help, but alas, notsomuch.

I should find out this week about the future of my current job. I think the writing's on the wall, and I'm gearing myself up for a potential career change. I knew months ago that this was no longer the right fit for me, but being the control freak that I am, I would like to end things on my terms rather than being forced by someone else's. I'll know more Friday and am trying to spend the next few days not being smothered by a thick blanket of anxiety, doubt and uncertainty.

My amazing church and pastor explained this weekend that crisis is the combination of both danger and opportunity, and how true that is. He encouraged us to seize the opportunity of uncertainty to prove God's potential in your life. Pastor Furtick also taught us to seize the opportunity of adversity to experience God's power. What a timely message heading into this new year!

It isn't all fear and questions in my life, though. In fact, I am chomping at the bit for Saturday to get here. The new beau's (oh yeah, have I mentioned anything about him yet... he's the cutie in glasses I keep getting questions about... smiles!) little sister has a great interest in photography and is very talented. She's coming over to snap Hems & Hers first photo shoot! I have had so much time concepting the shoot and am planning J. Crew meets Anthropologie meets Lilly Pulitzer for a fun, flirty, youthful, preppy and vintage feel. Just picture the fun prints of Hems & Hers fabric paired with:

- Candy-colored Wayfarers
- Umbrellas
- Cupcakes
- Huge flowers
- Headbands
- Chunky pearls
- Bright tights
- Bubbles (the soap and gum variety)
- A popcorn trolley
- Vintage luggage
- Puppies
- Pretty girls with huge smiles

Is there anything I'm missing?? I'm seriously giddy with excitement and can't wait to see the results.