My Life In Pictures...

the hubby plays out / hangry Brady / kitty mug love / vegan brownies at the GRIT...made by moi / night out at Farm 255 / hard at work and my hair shows it / sleepy critters / A Taste Of Athens armband extravaganza

Ok, I should so be doing schoolwork right now but I'm a bit wound up from all the wine, sugar and food that I gorged on at during my visit to tonight's A Taste Of Athens event.  Good gosh!  There were over 2,000 people who attended and raised a buttload of money for a local charity...and I got to people watch (there were so many fashionable folk there....alas, I was not one of them), visit with my cousin Michelle (who scored us free tickets) and visit with my good friend Lee.  The only problem was I ate way too much at the start and was too full to visit the majority of the booths without groaning.

Speaking of groaning, that's what I'm doing thinking about all I have to do this upcoming week.  School is starting to kick in gear and I have a lot of slack to pick up in that area.  Plus, I have to work a pretty grueling schedule again this week (hey, someone has to make the cookies and brownies, and decorate a gazillion cakes), organize my crafty supplies, do another closet purge, hunt down some fabric at the thrift store for another sewing project, deep clean the kitchen, get organized for a visiting friend, buy hiking sneakers, take Tullah to the vet for a tooth extraction, walk at least 2 miles every day (why?...more on that later), organize a detailed recipe list and rearrange our cookie folder at work (how much do I love that we have a folder dedicated to cookies?...a LOT), yadayadaya.  You get the idea.  I'm going to be busy but I'll be loving every moment of it.

Now I reallyreallyreally have to go do some schoolwork!

Oh, and here are some things that I've found during my recent Internet explorations...

I just love these handmade cards...so different than what I usually see.

Interested in the criteria for evaluating multicultural materials (books, journals, etc)?  Classwork invades the blog!

Lovely small container garden ideas...for all these.

Just an elephant visiting a sea lion.  Not cute...not cute at all.  *sarcasm*

You have more power than you think—don’t let the way you feel about your body keep you from living.

I'm still in awe of the Russian meteor incident...

And that this happened.  Now I have a new fear while driving...

This amazing wedding photographer took a stand...and then received an apology.  Kudos!

Best.  Costume.  Ever.  (If someone finds the original source please let me know...)

Simple ways to feel better right now.

Goats yelling like humans.  This made me laugh til I cried...

If you'd like to follow me on Instagram then you can find me @grits_and_moxie...

My Life In Pictures...

baking stuff...duh! / spooky weather at work / cool jacket on a cold night / I made pancakes / weirdest karaoke experience ever / making pizza while drinking a growler of beer = bliss / awful waffle / sweet Vienna is so grey

As you can see, my few Instagram photos as of late have been focused on food.  I can't help that a) I love to bake b) I work as a baker so I'm constantly making shit or c) that I love to eat.  I am what I am!  Speaking of which, today I made some more vegan goods at work and I'll be back sharing that recipe and more...oh-so-much-more.

Tonight the hubby and I are taking a much needed night off and splurging on a special experience.  Our local cinema Cine offers up a companion dinner with one of our favorite restaurants in town and the price is super reasonable.  So, we're going to get gussied up, go downtown, drink some wine, eat some delicious (REALLY DELICIOUS) food and then watch Argo.  Supporting local businesses = win, win, win.

Before I go and pin my new collection of state tie tacks to my newly thrifted jean jacket (yeah, I'm feeling very 90's tonight) in honor of tonight's shenanigans, I'll leave you with a long list of excellent internet finds...

Why judging people makes us unhappy.

I want to start creating regular portraits of our family...like this. 

Love is love...and they say it gets sweeter with age.  Grab a tissue and read this story...

When I get a library job I'm so wearing these 'text tights'!

My favorite, and only, vegan restaurant in town has the best nachos and I've been trying to figure out how they make their oh-so-good-I-could-drink-it cheese sauce.  Now, I know...

And for dessert...

I really want to splurge and buy this book on simple decorating...

The perfect welcome(?) mat.

I'm going to spend 5 days on the Appalachian Trail in March!  Yep, I'm supporting a friend who is walking the whole trail by herself...and we will start here.  More on this later...

It may be 2013 but we can't forget that the war on women still rages.  Here's a look back at 2012 to refresh your memory on some of the heinous shit that folks tried, failed and/or succeeded at in regards to demeaning and devaluing women.  I'm not staying silent this year or any year...

Awkward merit badges.

Summer from Oh Summer Candy has a Flickr favorite series that's just amazing.

This video is both brilliant and immensely sad.

Next project (after I get caught up with these) is to start canning again and I think this would inspire me!

Now, I'm off!  Oh, and you can find me on Instagram @grits_and_moxie if you feel like following me...

My Life In Pictures...

stretchy kitty / making granola all day long / date night with the hubby / getting my pecan fix on / words of wisdom from a southern napkin / I made cookies! / shadowy peace / thriftacular lamp / blood oranges = delicious

This is not the week to get sick!  Alas, this is the week that I've been sick...and the hubby too.  *sigh*  We always get sick at the exact same time which means that we can't really take care of each other and we tend to be real grumpy pants all 'round.  Bleh.

Although, today we put aside our illness and grumpy mcgrumperson ways in order to help a stray kitty in need.  The kitty was too injured to survive long so we had to make the choice to euthanize her (um, who was a sniffly snotty hot mess at the vet's office?...this lady!) but we know we did the right thing.  Poor kitty was in such pain!  She now resides under our shady oak tree in the backyard and I hope she rests there knowing that we claimed her as our own during the brief time we had her in our arms.  Be sure to hug your furry loved ones close tonight, eh?  I know I will...

Thankfully, not all of our week has been about sickness and sadness...it's been about school stress, long work hours, band practices every night of the week, etc.  Ha!  It's also been about food, friends and fun, and even a thrifting adventure thrown in.  And lots of reading of books!  I've read up on ASL, on vegan baking and a few other interesting things...

And here's what I've been reading on the web:

How to pet a kitty.

No bake cookies seem so appealing lately...

More kitty stuff!  I don't think I've peed in years without a cat visiting me in the bathroom...

These creepy food facts will always haunt me.  I'll never drink another Coke ever, ever, ever again...

Sophie from Her Library Adventures talks about nurturing one's creative soul.

I'm obsessed with this blog and I just want to crawl up into the pictures and live in them.

Popcorn is no longer an option for me but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good recipe!

Ever imagined what it would've been like if The Doors had sung Reading Rainbow?  Imagine no longer...

What personality type are you?  I'm an INFJ.

This.  *sniffles*

That's all the energy I have for today.  Now it's time for some juice, some tangelos, a few hot toddy's and doggy snuggles.

My Life In Pictures...

one of my few collections - church plates / I cut my bangs because I'm weak...so weak / memories / family photos / my beautiful Mom / we stayed up late watching old music videos / my favorite type of paper - books / birthday breakfast / waiting / Little Kings Shuffle Club is alright / veggie snacks / my Mom got hitched!...and neglected to tell me about the change in the wedding dress code...woops! / music with friends

Holy moley.  Holy gaboley.  Holy shit.  This has been somewhat of a whirlwind/life-changing/crazy week.  My Mom got married to her new love.  School started back.  Brady's keyboard broke.  We decided to become a 2 car household.  Brady found out he's playing the Georgia Theater.  Brady's job situation has changed a bit.  I found out I got a small promotion at work and have been working my butt off.  We decided to live in Athens til summer of 2014.  Blahblahblah.  Life, ya?  It's good but I wish it would slooooooow down just a bit...

Besides bemoaning the flight of time and all that stuff up in the paragraph above, I've been surfing the web and the like...

Trish from JellyBones received the most awesome holiday cards.

A guide to understanding an introvert.

This.

Pinterest, you are drunk.

I love these resources for simpler living.  Spot on!

What the fuck does 'no diet talk' mean?

Angela Landsbury style.  Gah, I love Bedknobs And Broomsticks!

Currently working on a book list and including lots of these resources.

Tiny house swoon.

Dreaming of a new tattoo done by this artist.

What a way to pay-it-forward!

A definite for the next Atlanta trip?  Center for Puppetry Arts!

I really like this song even though it's very different from what I usually listen to...

This show is going to be amazing!  Fun fact: I got a lap dance from Blondie years and years ago.

Michael Stipe visited my workplace yesterday...and smiled at me.  *pumps fist in air*

Now I'm off to study research methods.  Jealous?  Pfffft.

Happy Monday!

P.S. You can follow me on Instagram @grits_and_moxie

P.P.S.  I opened up a few more spaces for button swaps!  The response was so great (thanks!) and I want to be able to meet more folks out there...let's do this!  Use the PF code EXPLORE to receive 100% off the smaller size ad...

My Life In Pictures...

grey muzzle and liquid eyes / channeling Hogwarts / kitties are looming / quilt dreams / booze / more booze / my 2 loves / my new knitted press cozy is just perfect / Diana of Versailles at the High Museum / hipster chops / smile / Howard Finster / Brady's place of work is shutting down *sad face* / love

Looking at these pictures makes me realize that I didn't even begin to document 1/4 of what happened this past week.  Gah, so much.  So much!  It wasn't all booze, bad fashion and museum snapshots, m'friend.  It was our last taste of freedom before a new semester started for Brady, and for me too.  That's right...this gal's back in academia.  Yay...?  No, really, it's a good thing and I'm glad that I'm finishing up.  *fingers crossed*  I'm hoping that by the time we both graduate (him with undergrad and me with this master's extended certification) we'll be ready to move on from Athens and maybe find work in our fields of study.  Ah, dreams of fiscal responsibility that will probably change soon enough.  I tend to want to live in a van down by the river when things start to get tough...

Speaking of tough...how about a dental appointment at 9am that required some tooth grinding with no Novocaine?  Yep, that was my morning but I'm thrilled with the results and I'm now proudly sporting my pre-teen tooth gap aka midline diastema!  After years of braces, fillers, etc, (all of which were pushed on me as a kid) I finally found a dentist willing to remove all the fake shit and leave my front teeth just like they were when I was a kid - gappy!  Well, not quite the prominent gap of my youth thanks in part to the power of those braces but still slightly noticeable.  I love it!

Not loving right now?  Growing out my bangs.  Bleh.  Luckily I found this.

Glass corn?!?  Beautiful...

My obsession with wind chimes is growing.  I reallllllly want these.

All 3 of our cats are murder kitties.  Just ask the half eaten squirrel they left on my pillow a while back...

Speaking of murder kitties, mine are constantly trying to whack me too.

Woodie Guthrie's New Year's Resolutions.

If we actually settle down again then I'd like to try my hand at growing so many goodies...

This article both infuriated me and made me think.

Adam is coming to visit again and he's taking us to see Justin Townes Earl.

Part of my trip planning for Atlanta involves a visit to Six Feet Under...a pub with a view of Oakland Cemetary!

Do you know how bad I want these Armadillo gloves?!?

Big thanks to all who bought ads in the latter part of 2012!  I made several donations to BARC (Valdosta, GA) and the monies help pay for helping with the medical bills of kitties and doggies alike!

Happy Monday everyone!
 

My Life In Pictures...

greetings from The Grit / funny face #1 / dog wrestling is a big thing during the holidays / gingerbread cupcakes / juice madness / fulfilling a 100 Before 40 goal / Mama Kitty is pretty damn comfortable / a thrift score! / I won a giveaway from Lara's Vintage and got the coolest stuff / another thrift score! / funny face #2

I wrote a long paragraph about my holidays but deleted it because I sounded like the biggest Grinch to blog ever in the history of blogging.  Let the record state that a) my holidays were less than stellar b) I became a stress ball c) the weather was atrocious d) I'm glad it's all over but e) it was great seeing family.  I'm just going to leave it at that, ok?  My fingers are crossed that yours were much better than mine...

Now it's back to the grind although next week is one of my lightest work weeks in months thanks in part to NYE, winter break and the integration of some new old staff, and I'm totally going to take advantage of the college-student-free-zone that is Athens right now.  It's so freaking quiet up here and there is no wait to get in anywhere.  Booya!  And I have friends coming up too!  Double booya!  I'm planning on taking them here, here, here, here, and here, and I hope we can catch a glimpse of this guy.  Whoa, I feel better already!

Besides researching places to go, I've been reading up on some various stuff and finding some new things to delight over and that inspire.  Want to see?

Have you ever heard of Wilson Alwyn "Snowflake" Bentley?

Speaking of snowflakes, you just have to ooooh and ahhhh over this real-life winter wonderland.

Kiddo TV is hosting a giveaway involving some super cool handmade buttons.  You should stop by and check it out...and visit her ETSY store too!  I'm drooling over this dress and wish I had it in hand for NYE.

Yay for Marks And Spencer!

NPR talks veganism.  Me likey.

Four words - cranberry red wine spritzer.

This 'shit southern women say' video is like time traveling to my high school years in Waycross, GA.

Neon signs = new obsession.

One of my favorite new blogs almost put me back in the holiday spirit.  Almost.

Who knew there were so many calligraphy fonts out there?  Not me!  I'm partial to the Amal and the Jane Austen m'self.

Puppy mills are terrible, terrible things and one of my goals for 2013 is to work hard to eradicate them from the state of GA and the rest of the US.

Want.  Want bad.  Must have.

This is inspiring to hit the road again...not that it takes much to stir my wanderlust.

Brady has a look-alike in Athens (for realsies!) so this article caught my attention in a hurry.

Feel the love.  How could anyone be against this?

Totally going to see this movie as soon as it hits the big screen.

Shelfari to help me organize my book list for 2013...yay or nay?

One of the reasons I want to go to Death Valley is to see these weird things.

Tofu chorizo?  Shut up!  Yet another reason to return to Asheville...

Now it's off to make a cuppa tea, drink some of that juice that I slaved over, try not to eat any of the sweets that Brady's Mimi loaded us down with over the holidays and then call the landlord about a broken washing machine.  You know, typical Friday!  Ha!

Oh, if you're interested in following me on Instagram then you can find me @grtis_and_moxie...

My Life In Pictures...

living room plant situation now that the cold weather has arrived / pizza at Fellini's in ATL / my cake decorating obsession is growing / sleepy Vienna / before / and after / happy hook is happy / gingerbread cupcakes!!! / holiday cards are laaaaaaate / my new apron / mysterious DIY project / quilts on my knees are also the bee's knees

As you can tell by the pictures, my life lately has revolved around baking...delicious, sticky, weight inducing (hey, I have to taste my product and I also love to eat...so sue me!), time consuming baking of goods.  I've learned so much in the last few weeks including a few things on what not to do when making a cake as well as realizing just how freaking small my kitchen actually is.  Gah, it's tiny!  Still, I made my first requested cake (buttermilk dark chocolate with cream cheese icing) and a surprise choice of gingerbread cupcakes, both for a dear friend's holiday gatherings.  I was beyond thrilled when she asked me to create some goodies because I'm obsessed!  My head is continually filled with new ideas and my fridge is full of enough butter to make Paula Deen swoon with joy.  

Oh, and I'm still 98% vegan but I do have to sample things that aren't in order to ensure that everything is tasting the way it's supposed to taste...which means, yes, I'm ingesting dairy and eggs.  Since that's the case, anything that I make in my home for sale or gifts is made with only local and/or cage-free/hormone-free/humaneaspossible milk, cream and eggs.  I feel that I'm striking a good balance between providing a good product, fulfilling the wishes of the consumer and trying to keep my own ethics in line.

In case anyone is interested, here's the recipe for the gingerbread cupcakes I made for my friend.  I based it on this recipe but changed up and defined a few things...

• 1/2 cup of softened butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp all spice seasoning
• 1/2 tsp powdered ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground clove
• 1/4 cup heavy cream 
• splash of cold coffee

Separate dry and wet ingredients, mix each separately and then combine.  Spoon into well greased muffin tins or cups until they are 1/2 - 3/4 full.  Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.  Let cool slightly, remove from pan and then cool completely.  Cover with icing or brush of butter/margarine.

Icing:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 4 oz softened butter
• 2 1/2 - 3 cups confectioner sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• teensy tiny pinch of cinnamon

Enjoy!

If you'd like to make them vegan then simply sub margarine (or applesauce in muffin only) for butter, leave out cream cheese in icing, use an egg substitute product and sub soy/hemp/almond milk for heavy cream.  Just be sure to check the consistency since it's supposed to be fairly thick!

Before I go I'd like to thank all of those who guest posted this past week or so!  Revisit them here, here, here, here and here.  I'll (hopefully) have other guest posting opportunities in the coming months so if you're interested then shoot me an email at gritsandmoxie[at]gmail[dot]com.

What's coming up on the blog in the new year, you might ask?  Well, I'm finally going to talk about my decision regarding veganism, share some goals for the year, share my thoughts on some of the difficulties in blogging, get the Brew Review up and running, host some book talks, and maybe doing some baking/decorating tutorials.  Sound ok so far?

Well, off to work again!  Happy Saturday to you all...

My Life In Pictures...

workworkworkwork / a splurge / stars / lights are up / new sweater! / 42 / vegan hot chocolate cupcake / Mama Kitty snuggles

Things are still hectic around here but I've been lucky enough to spend a few minutes enjoying the little things that come my way - kitties, sweaters, white sparkly lights, bakery stuffs and awesome thrifted finds.  Can't wish for too much more than that, eh?

Oh, aaaaaaand here are a few things that have grabbed my attention as of late...

Have you seen what Jes from The Militant Baker has done?!?  A Body Positive Workshop!!!  Gah, I wish I could go...

This cartoon about dogs made me laugh so hard that I snorted water out of my nose...

And this video about Cat-Friend vs Dog-Friend has been watched numerous times at the Keene-Carrington Casa.  "Hey.  Hey.  Hey.  We're out of cereal."  Story of my life at 7am every morning.

I want to stay here next time I'm in Asheville, NC.  Isn't it so bright and funky?!?  Airbnb is such a great way to travel...remember our trip to Athens way back when?

Catlanta is the shit.

Rachele's blog post where she shares a good deal about herself is inspiring me to step outside my comfort zone.

Look at this cake.  LOOK AT IT!  My blossoming inner-baker is squealing over the decoration!

And even MORE CAKE AMAZINGNESS!  Sorry but these kind of things might become a bit more prevalent in the near future.  Why?  Well, I'll tell you when I know more!  Oh, and I'll be making that salted caramel cake soon...*pinky swear*

Can someone make me one of these before my guests arrive tomorrow?  Or these?  I've already got the stuff to do this.  Oh, this is going to be a great weekend!

Fuck You, Rape Culture.  Jezebel gives us a look at some of the most horrifying issues involving rape, politics, society and women in 2012.  A fun read?  No.  Necessary considering that 1 out of every 6 women will be the victim/survivor of a rape or attempted rape?  Yes, indeedy.

I miss Hyperbole And A Half so much!  One of my goals is to go back through them all from the very beginning.

Adrian's restaurant reviews always make me a) hungry and b) a bit jealous.  There aren't too many creative vegan/vegetarian restaurants around these parts.

My So Called Chaos is having a massive giveaway including something from yours truly.  Stop on by...

Guest post commence soon and I know that you're going to love what folks have lined up for you...

My Life In Pictures...

Tullah Belle / dive bar / sleeping buddies / Brady's band makes the cover / black and white / decorating a friend's tree / sandalwood obsessed / Sr. Sol's is the shit

Y'all, all I've done since we returned to Athens (and, ok, maybe a good while before that too...ay yi yi!) have been the following:  eat, take photos of the dogs, sleep, work x 100, eat some more, avoid emails, condition my hair with coconut oil (oh hell YEAH!), enter in a few items for various blog giveaways, pin bakery item ideas, make a few crafty things for the blog, make 'to do' lists and then ignore them, clean out my closet and help friends with their holiday decorating.  Well, maybe I've got a bit more going on than I thought...hmmm...it doesn't feel like it...I feel sluggish and a bit blah...probably because of my poor eating choices of late.  Bummer!

Have you ever tried to cut back on sugar?  Well, I did and I was doing pretty okay job until this bakery gig started.  Now I'm back to a daily ginger ale soda and a sweet (I was told to try as many cakes, cookies and/or pies that I could so that I could learn what they're supposed to taste like), and neither of those are good on a regular basis.  I've been eliminating the sweet stuff the last few days and it's rough going.  If anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with sugar cravings and/or headaches then I'm all ears.    

In order to try to occupy my mind more and to keep from thinking about sugar, I'm continuing the photo challenge into December and maybe beyond...but I did get a bit of a late start this go 'round due to travels and tribulations.  La, I'm getting caught up quickly and I'd love it if you would request to follow me on Instagram via @grits_and_moxie...

Here are a few other things that I've got going on...

I think I've mentioned this before but Benedict Cumberbatch is the bad guy in the new Star Trek and he is going to rock that shit!  The new teaser trailer is out!

Holiday gift giving guides for feminists are a bit lacking so I'm going to create my own (and maybe post on the blog if you're interested?) and will include books, charities, etc.  To start you off, I highly recommend buttons and prints from grimmricksen and zine/button/pin/etc goodies from Modern Girl Blitz.  Please, please, please feel free to share your recommendations...

If you are on a strict budget this holiday season then I encourage you to give the best gifts of all...that of kindness, compassion and the support of a charity that creates positive change.  My personal suggestions include anti-bullying campaigns, GLBTQ advocacy and, of course, animal welfare organizations. Here's an example of how your donations and time can truly help.  Better get some tissues...

I'm obsessed with using pinecones for decorations and I keep bringing tons in the house and then the kitties destroy them.  *sad face*  

Adam is going to be here for NYE and day so I want to cook up a mess of food that follows tradition but is a bit quirkier than expected.  I found this lovely vegan New Year's Day menu slideshow for inspiration...

This list of the top 10 places to visit in 2013 is really whetting my appetite for traveling adventures.  The San Juan Islands look amazing and seeing the Northern Lights are on my 100 Before 40.  I can go to there?

Well, I'm off to see if I can actually make a dent in my 'to do' list before work tonight.  *fingers crossed*  If not, then it's soup time and catching up on Downton Abbey.  Decisions, decisions...

Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!

My Life In Pictures...

thankful / black / waking up with major Adele hair / dirty kitty paws / an excellent giveaway / my view at work / more work / and more work in the bakery / weird mouth photo / happy faces at the Louis CK show / more work stuff - snickerdoodles! / in my cupboard / blue view

Sorry for disappearing on you for a few days but this week has been super busy.  Damn, I'm starting to feel like a broken record as of late - 'I'm busy' 'things are cuh-ray-zee' 'did I mention that I was busy' 'gah, things are so hectic!'  You get the drift...

Even if I let the blog mellow for a bit (but in my defense I did leave you with an awesome giveaway to enter, right?) I did have time to do things besides sling food, greet customers, ice cakes and make more granola than one person should ever have to look at it in their lifetime.  Shall I break it down for you?

Warning: This List Is Short.

Ahem.

Brady and I discovered that if you roll acorns (the same acorns that hit our tin roof every freakin' 5 seconds and sound like a gun going off) down our crazy steep driveway our kitties will chase them like crazy and even carry them around in their mouths like a dog with a toy.  Weirdos.

Jes over at The Militant Baker put me on her list of favorite blog reads!  Holy shit!  You have no idea how much it means to me.  Jes is one of my favorite, and most inspirational in real/honest/lovely/complex ways, bloggers out there...

I've got some new sponsors and I'm thrilled to have them aboard.  So, if you notice a new name/face/button then you should visit them ASAP.

After meeting the cutest kid in the world (really, this child stole my heart and I'm not big on kids) who communicated via ASL, I've begun my 100 Before 40 goal of learning 100 words.  I've got 5 memorized so far!

Brady played at the 40 Watt for the Holidaze show and it was unbelievably fun.  I drank a few whiskey dranks, listened to some new-to-me local artists and then sat on the couch backstage where Kurt Cobain had parked his rear years ago.

My friend Cater bought me tickets to see the Louis CK show here in Athens and I had to pinch myself numerous times to make sure that I was really there!  He's one of my favorites alongside Mitch Hedberg and Maria Bamford.  I laughed out loud so much my sides hurt...and I have a very weird laugh so I know everyone around me was probably less than thrilled.  Oh well!  Ha!  

And I made tentative plans with Cater for NYE involving blanket forts and fireworks and bonfires!  I have to spend some time with her before she hightails it to South America for some adventures and then disappears for 6 months on the Appalachian Trail...

Right now in a few minutes (my Nana's favorite saying) I'll be packing for a long awaited trip back to Valdosta, GA to see friends and eat the world's best nachos.  To say that I'm excited is an understatement...

So, yeah.  Good times were had and will continue to be had...

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

PS You can follow me on Instagram @grits_and_moxie
PPS I've deleted my Twitter account so you won't find me on there anymore.  La, I'm streamlining!
PPPS There are a few more free ad swaps available so send me an email if you might be interested!

Athens Life - Scull Shoals Ghost Town...

Brady and I recently stumbled across some information regarding a local ghost town and were finally able to make the trek earlier in the week.  The place?  Scull Shoals.  The location?  In. The. Middle. Of. Nowhere. Off. A. Long. Gravel. Road. With. No. Signs. To. Keep. You. From. Getting. Lost.  The adventure?  Had.

Scull Shoals has quite the sad history ranging from the decimation of an indigenous population courtesy of de Soto's folks to the flooding of the area (which still continues to this day) due to farming the land too much in the 1700's-1900's.  All that's left are a few crumbling structures - mill and a few bridges - and some archeological finds tucked away in a museum somewhere.  We were the only people there (maybe in part that it's off of 3 gravel roads and 1 country road with the aforementioned 'no signage' issue?) and the place seemed eerily quiet and more than a bit sad but still beautiful.  Have you ever gone somewhere and you can just feel the history that took place?

On the drive back home I was looking out the window and just watching the blur of colors slide by when I saw something off in the distance.  Was it?  Could it be?  YES!  YES IT WAS!  My happy screech caused Brady to swerve a bit before I was able to babble out that I'd finally found The Iron Horse!

via

I've wanted to see this thing FOREVER and I finally found it!  This controversial art piece lives in the middle of a corn field and is often obscured by the crops but is visible during the fall and winter months.  I didn't want to go on the folk's property without permission so I had to be content with just looking at if from afar (which is why I have no personal photos of it) but it was still an awesome experience.

My Life In Pictures...

what's in my bag / read #1 / shadow works / view from my window / read #2 - Mr Simon Pegg is my latest man crush / drinks at work / internet is still down = front porch chillaxin' / my first persimmon / gift from random stranger / I made cupcakes at work / in search of a ghost town
/ almost done with work

Well, hi hi!  Maybe you can tell me where in the heck did this month go?  Gah, can we slow things down a bit?  Although I must admit that I'm looking forward to next weekend and a long awaited trip back to our old town to visit with friends so maybe time can slow down after that, eh?

This past week was an interesting mix of mostly work (and included one of the longest days I've ever had at a job...everevereverever), great books, some new adventures, vegan cooking experiments and a few mishaps like cutting the everliving heck out of my hand (ouchies) and giving myself several lovely bruises and burns.  Ah, life.  You are an interesting and awesome experience...

Speaking of interesting and/or awesome...

Erica from The Painted Trailer posted about all the goodies she received from winning the MOXTOBERFEST GIVEAWAY.  Woo!  Big thanks to Jen from Red Parka Diaries, Sabz from The Eclectic Grab Bag, Jennifer from Grimmricksen and Marilyn from Pulp Sushi.

Stranger Bird Vintage has a bunch of new goods in stock and is offering a 15% discount on all purchases from now til 12/31/12 using the code GRIT15.  Oh yeah!

I loved learning about Alex The Parrot!

Great food documentary suggestions from Faith over at Trail GRRRL.  I'm going to watch Genetic Roulette ASAP because I'm concerned about my soy intake and might need to switch up my diet even more.

This article on what people have to say about changing a last name in regards to marriage.  I didn't change mine and the response has ranged from positive to negative.  Interesting stuff, tradition.

I'm completely obsessed with The Vegan Stoner.  The recipes are amazing (lots of non-soy ones if I decide to go that route) and the illustrations are too freaking cute!

After a glut of cheesy action movie I've decided to revamp my movie watching experiences.  First up is the documentary mentioned above and then Life Of Pi.

I encourage everyone to buy from independent retailers this holiday season!  Athen's slogan is 'shop your Ath off!'  Ha!  Here are some stats that better illustrate the difference between buying local and/or handmade and buying from a big box store. 

And I'm happy to announce that any monies from ads purchased via Grits And Moxie from now til January 1st will be donated to Family To Family and the local Athen's Area Humane Society.  I'm so glad to give back to those in need...

Happy Friday!

PS - If you'd like to follow me on Instagram my username is grits_and_moxie...

My Life In Pictures...

November photo a day continues / color is my crumpled yellow apron / breakfast before one of the busiest shifts I've ever worked / delicious soda *drool* / one of my favorite TV shows / a quick trip to Atlanta / dinner / reflection at the hubby's show / homemade shortbread cookies are my favorite / Tullah Belle now has a DIY sweatshirt / voting stickers and amazing eyebrow action shot

Yesterday was full of new stuff for me since I trained for 2 new positions at work - baker (I'll definitely share more about this in another post) and expo.  It was also an incredibly long day that started at 8am and ended at 3am...ay yi yi.  Most was work related time but I did make a rare appearance at one of my husband's shows and, well, I had a few whiskey dranks and ended up dancing to CAKE during an impromptu music party at our house.  Not a typical Wednesday night but a fun one nonetheless.

Speaking of fun, I'm still chugging right along with my photo a day challenge and enjoying thinking of creative ideas for upcoming days.  Hmmm.  If you'd like to follow along then you can find me via my username grits_and_moxie.  Come on over!

Today was supposed to be my only day off this week but, alas, someone bamboozled me and now I'm working.  La, the monies will be helpful and since I get to eat desserts for free now (booya!) I might just treat myself to a cuppa tea and some cake.  Yep, that sounds like a perfect way to make the best of things...

My Life In Pictures...

new dress for the cheap (and a spot on the mirror that makes me look as if I have a good glob of toothpaste in the corner of my mouth) // ET // at work // yummy new natural sodas // still at work // finally at home // Turkish coffee // yay for dropping 2 jean sizes in 5 months via a better eating plan...I love my curves and always want to have some so I won't be losing too much more! // vanilla malted cake...*drool* // kitty loves // work art // candles on the porch // warm flannel and weird faces // The Lost Boys for Halloween // my 'c' contribution to November photo challenge

In case you didn't notice by the these pictures, my week has consisted of food, work and drinks.  No complaints since I'm enjoying all 3!

And my work pictures will probably become even more prevalent due to the fact that in addition to my regular work I'm also the newest bakery assistant.  Yep yep!  All those delicious cakes, cookies and pies will be made by moi...well, not in the beginning but hopefully in the near future.  My first shift involves icing, decorating and cookies.  Gah, I'm really excited about learning this new craft and challenging myself.  Plus more $ coming in the household isn't a bad thing either.  I'm making about 1/2 what I was making in Valdosta and Brady is making a 1/3.  Small town living is a lot cheaper too.  But the tradeoffs are worth it for now and we wanted change.  Well, we got it...and museums!...and Botanical Gardens!...and a great music scene!...and you get the picture, eh?  Heh.

Now I'm off to work (surprise) all day with a small break in between shifts.  My plan is to take some pictures on the walk home but I may just want to huff it back so I can have some tea, finish the novel I'm reading and try to work on my story before it's time to go back to The Grit's hustle and bustle.  No matter what, I'll do my darndest to have a happy day!  And I hope you have a wonderful day too...

My Life In Pictures...

new kitty necklace / new kitty pin / candy! / suck traffic / folk art exhibit / our campsite rocks / leaves changing / camping is hell on one's hands / yes for equality...and don't forget it! / Asheville, NC eats / yum / hey! / kitty times / DeKalb County Farmer's Market / Winthrope / wtf?

Oy.   This week has been beyond incredible.  Well, except for the cold crud.  But that's waning...joy!

Tonight I worked an unexpected shift which ended with my drinking vino with some of the staff and discovering exactly how amazing the majority of these folks are.  I'm thrilled and I must say that my life is full of some really-freaking-mindblowing-excellent stuff.  I can say, today (and most days), that I love, love, love my job.  I mean, I learn something every single time I walk through the door, I get to eat awesome vegan food and I meet some famous folks.  What what?  And there might be more unexpected stuff in my future?  Me, a semi-professional baker?  Yes!?!  *fingers crossed*  If all ends well then I'll be back with more on that later... 

Now I'm off to bed.  Tomorrow I plan to post about my favorite Halloween songs.  Be prepared...they are legion.  And then more guest posts this weekend.  Yay!

Happy Thursday (barely) to everyone!

My Life In Pictures...

family and friend / a real Irish band! / drinks / the lights are going up around town / love this building / tea time / clocking in at work / testing my organizational skills (and failing) / the sneaky Chubby Kitty is the last critter that needs to be introduced

As always, I'm grateful that I made it through another week of my lovely, chaotic, sometimes sad but never boring (well, sometimes boring) life.  And I'm glad that I can share a few things with y'all on the blog today!

Brady and I are going to be out of town for a few days so I've rounded up another great group of guest bloggers to keep you entertained.  Some you've met before and some are new faces but all are wonderful ladies. I hope that you'll stop by and visit with them...because supporting the diverse blogging community is something very important and very worthwhile.  Without each other, what would we have?  Not to mention that they'll have some badass DIY projects, stories and more! 

THE MOXTOBERFEST GIVEAWAY STARTS ON MONDAY.  Yes, this is definitely a situation that requires ALL CAPS!  Oh my gosh, I can't wait for it to start!  If you want a bit of a sneak peek at what's going down - the prizes, the duration, etc - then you should stop by The Eclectic Grab Bag and read one of my first ever guest posts. 

The rest of today is focused on getting squared away for the trip.  That means packing, getting doggies/kitties setup for sitter, cleaning, washing a big batch of newly acquired thrifty goods because I hit the freakin' jackpot today (4 skirts, 2 sweater, 1 cardigan, 1 dress, 1 necklace and 1 pin for $8.99) and charging up the battery for the camera so I can take lots of pictures of our adventures.  I must admit that I love getting organized but I never tend to be completely organized.  Something is always left out or missing or forgotten...but maybe I do that because I always want to work on organizing.  If I was totally organized then what would I do?  Ok, this sounds a bit ramble on'ish' so I'll cease and desist.

Happy Thursday everyone!  See you Monday!

My Life In Pictures...

fall clothes / kooky times with friends / getting organized(?) / junque / sweater weather / hongry / new slippers / library book overload / porch critters / roses still blooming / Clawdia is tired / silliness with the tandem

This week has been pretty darn good...and I think this weekend is going to be even better!  We've got lots of friends coming into town which means trips to fancy food/drink places (read: anywhere besides our house and the market) for adventures.  Plans also include a visit the pumpkin patch to get my gourd obsession on and playing photographer for Brady's band tonight.  Somewhere in all of this I need to squeeze in more work (yikes!), a baking session, some research on the National Novel Writing Month and a trip to the DeKalb Farmer's Market.  I also need to scour the thrift stores for the beginnings of our costumes....wheeee!

By the way, what is up with all the sexy Halloween costume stuff?  SEXY BERT AND ERNIE?  Really?  Sheesh.

Anyhoo, be sure to check back tomorrow for the first in a series of special guest bloggers!

Happy Friday!

My Life In Pictures...

shiny shoes for work / fall themed pies at The Grit / porch times / delicious take-out food / Mr Winthrope / my mug has a story!

Well, this is the saddest collection of Instagram photos ever.  I just haven't been using it often.  Or Facebook.  Or Twitter.  Or anything really.  I've been too darn busy either working or running around in a 'ohmygoshitisfallandIhavesomanyplansandstuffthatIwanttodoandwowlookatthatsunset!' haze that's actually kept me from doing some things.  Weird, huh?  Now, I'm not saying that spontaneity is bad but I do have the tendency to let a lot of things fall (ha!  fall!  pun?) by the wayside when I'm in these kind of moods...and as an adult the rent has to be paid, the house has to be somewhat clean and the books need to go back to the library on time.  But that flibbery flibbishesness ends today!  (The unfocusedness...not the paying of rent and the like!)  After my shift I am going to sit down, get organized and present to you an October Goals List that will not only help me get on track (and settle down and focus a wee bit) but also give you a better idea of what to expect from Moxtoberfest.  Woo-hoo!

Oh, and for those of you interested in the story of the mug then here it is.  A Jekyll Island woman, who is fighting the selling of State Park land, commissioned a limited number of them made using her own artwork and then gave them to friends during the holidays.  And one of my co-workers got one last year since the artist lives in Athens during the winter.  Small world since I have family in the SSI/Jekyll area involved in the movement too!  The only shame is that I can never tell her that I ended up having one of the mugs...that would mean I'd have to tell her that someone gave her gift to the thrift!  Bummer.

Anyhoo, I'm off to work and then to the fair tonight.  I cannot wait to take some pictures and pet some critters and watch people ride insanely nauseating rides.

Happy Thursday!

My Life In Pictures...

hello there bug friend / my super crush / a grey hair takes center stage / view of a slow game day / shift drinks rock / dressed down date night / the boots are back! / MST3K at the bar / a new addiction

September has definitely been a month to remember.  There has been so much learning, growing, changing, turning and, yes, topsy turvy'ing.

Pros:
I have great blogging friends who are willing to guest post.  Score!  A big thank you to all of those who've contributed and will contribute in the future.
I learned a lot of new things via Photographic September...including things I should've added or done differently.
I was lucky enough to find a new job at a great place.  Whew!
I've explored a city that holds so many wonderful things for me.
I've really reconnected with my husband and enjoy every minute we get to spend together.
I made some headway in my 100 Before 40 quest.
I have brainstormed for October and think I have some really great things in the works.  If only I can find enough time to do it all!
I've rediscovered my love for mysteries and adventure.
I.  Love.  Cooler.  Weather.
I have become more comfortable in my skin in so many ways.  Even to the point of doing this.

Negatives:
Nothing that I'm not learning from or letting go.  Life's too short to dwell on the bad and I'm moving forward to continue my journey!  The less-than-stellar moments of this month have motivated me to try to become a kinder person, to become even more involved in animal rights and to be a better daughter.  Yep, life moves on like a river...


How about you?  Was September a 'yay', a 'nay' or a 'meh'?

My Life In Pictures...

friend in town / hubby plays a local show / hiking with bad bangs / a new job / a new haircut / healthy choices / emerging mushroom / home sweet home after a long night / rainy day doggies / another hiking trip / coffee for Brady

I can't believe that September is almost halfway gone and that so many changes have been happening in my life as of late.  Good stuff for the most part...and always learning, learning, learning.

Speaking/writing about learning stuff, this month of photography has been one big ol' experiment but I've really enjoyed it...and hope you have too.  While things might have slowed down a bit due on the blog to my busy work schedule, all that will change shortly.  There are a bunch more guest posts, I've got some inspirational ideas to discuss and I'm even coming up with boocoodles of plans for October.  The almost-fall weather has me motivated!