Tailgate Treats: State Edition

Y'all, Saturday is huge. We play State at home. I didn't post about our last game, because, well, it's my blog and sometimes I have selective memory and choose to "forget" bad games. Anyway, the State game is always big, but we desperately need a win. Also, State has won the last three in the series so we need to take a stand.

It will be senior day. I'll do a Thank You Seniors post soon (which will basically be a We Love You, TJ! post, just for fair warning).

Until then, here are Saturday's tailgate treats for the noon kickoff:

Slow cooker breakfast casserole (I'm so excited about this, but it could end up being a disaster. I'll keep you posted.)
Cream cheese danish squares (new recipe!)
Carolina Cake Balls (These were a huge hit last week. I've had a couple of baking successes lately which is huge for me! Promise to post a picture this time).

Stay tuned for senior day and I hate state posts. Lovelovelove.

Carolina Cake Balls

Hello, Perspective

Ok. I promise to post about Carolina Cake Balls and the Va. Tech game later, but some things trump food and football (gasp, I know, it is hard to believe and I can't believe I said it).

I have had a series of events lately that have been HUGE wake up calls. There is no denying that God is trying to tell me something (to realize how blessed I am, to lean on him and to stop sweating the small stuff, I think) and I'm so grateful for it.

I won't get into specifics for the sake of people's privacy, but there have been a couple scares in my life lately. They both have turned out to be nothing more than scares, but have provided ridiculous amounts of perspective.

In addition to those two scares, my brother is giving me the same much needed reality check.  He will be 9 on Friday. WHAT?! I remember the day he came home, the day I was the only one that could make him stop crying, the day I complained awkwardly about how starving I was to distract from the fact that I didn't know how to feel about getting a new brother the day before my 16th birthday.

I cannot believe he will be 9. He is starting to get this great little personality that makes me so proud of him. He's smart and funny and we have a bond that I cherish. His sense of humor kills me and I cannot imagine my life without him. I'm so grateful for my brother in my life.

Anyway, all this is to say there are way more important things than the things that stress us out day-to-day. And I have to believe that God really does have a plan for me. He's been trying to tell me to relax and appreciate all the blessings that I have - He will handle the rest. What an enormous gift to have such amazing friends and family AND be able to give all the little daily stresses to God. Life is good!! :)

Tailgate Treats

I'm starting a new blog posting category: tailgate treats. I figure I put so much thought and effort into what I'm making each tailgate that I should share the yummy successes (and not so yummy failures) with you here.

Saturday is a big game. We are playing Va. Tech in Chapel Hill and we NEED to win. A win would be huge. Ginormous. Priceless. Insane. You get the picture.

I'll start cooking tomorrow night, but for now, let me leave you with the menu.

Ham and Cheese Palmiers (these have become a staple)
Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Dip (new recipe!)
Carolina Cake Balls (I'm particularly nervous about this one - I'm SO not a baker, but these look precious and more tailgate friendly than a giant cake you have to cut)

Stay tuned for pictures and taste verdicts.

Monday Morning Review

This weekend was absolutely insane. I literally don't think I had a moment to myself other than sleeping for a few hours at a time. That being said, it was an absolutely AMAZING WEEKEND!

Friday night started off with a Chapel Hill dinner at Brixx followed by watching the bball boys take on Barton. We won, by a lot. KMarsh looked great. Barnes struggled, but I'm not worried. I imagine it's pretty hard to be the first freshman ever named to the preseason All-American team. No pressure, right? He'll be fine.

Saturday I had a really fun work event. The weather was cold and gross, but the turnout was great. After that, I headed to my dad's to watch the football boys BEAT FLORIDA STATE IN TALLAHASSEE. Yep, you read that correctly. It all came down to a last second MISSED field goal by FSU, giving us the two point win 37-35. And our beloved Taylor Jonathan had a career game with close to 450 yards passing. Ready? WE LOVE YOU, TJ!!

TJ's Crew!

Sunday was our Pancreatic Cancer Walk which went so amazingly well! We raised over $100,000 dollars (the goal was $25,000) and had close to 700 people walk/run! After the race we had two after parties, so there was no rest for the weary!

Looking forward to some down time after visiting my grandparents tonight with a little XOXO Gossip Girl.

Oh hey there November!

Today is November 1, 2010. It is also a Monday. I lovelovelove when the first of the month falls on a Monday. It seems so...fitting. Monday's are always "fresh start" days and when a Monday falls on the 1st the fresh start quotient is like quadrupled.

I've been making a conscious effort to live in the moment and just be happy. There are several things coming in my future that I could worry about, but I have no idea how they will turn out and there is absolutely nothing I can do to affect the outcome. So, in the meantime, I will just live and have fun.

And November is Thanksgiving month! Which means the holidays are upon us! Everyone knows Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Any holiday that involves massive amounts of food (especially carbs), beverage (prosecco, please) and football (Carolina at Duke) is right up my alley.

Happy November, y'all! Enjoy and lighten up a little. :)

Monday Morning Review

Dressed up as Marvin Austin

Homecoming + Halloween = a guaranteed good time. And it was. The Heels managed to pull out a 21-17 win over Mike Paulus and William and Mary. It was NOT pretty, but we got the W. We're now one win away from bowl eligibility. Unfortunately, we play FSU next game in Florida so it will be a daunting task. Also, Shankles tore his ACL so he is out for the season. Turns out he will be the 30th player to miss a game this season. That is almost a third of the team. Insane.

The weekend itself was great. Fun with friends and family all weekend. So game day! I got to see so many people from school, including one of my best friends/my little sister from my sorority. Basketball season starts Friday. Stay tuned. :)

Grateful

You know when you have those moments when you realize how incredibly blessed you are? Whether it's a specific event that causes the realization or one of those times when you just feel an overwhelming sense of peace - it's so important to be grateful. I realize this would be a good Thanksgiving post, but its on my mind now and I figure we should be grateful all year round, not just at Thanksgiving, right? So here goes.

I am grateful for:

• The absolute most incredible family in the world. Okay, so it's definitely not the most traditional family and there have been some hard times, but I would not change one single thing. To be as close to both your parents as I am is an incredible blessing and I wouldn't be anywhere in this world without them (literally, of course, but I mean more metaphorically). I'm Mama's best friend and Daddy's little girl and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have a ridiculously awesome brother who is finding new ways to make me proud everyday (including, but not limited to, early morning game day texts). I have a stepmom that makes even ordinary events seem fun. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc are all incredibly cool. So blessed.
• Carolina. Even if you take sports out of the equation, there is no place I feel more sublimely happy than Chapel Hill. And once you add sports, well, game over (no pun intended). Chapel Hill has been in my heart since I was a baby, but it means even more to me since I graduated. I literally feel a weight lifted off of me when I am in Chapel Hill. Everyone should be so lucky to have a place that makes them feel the way Chapel Hill makes me feel. So blessed.
• A job I love. Sometimes I literally have to pinch myself. I get to do public relations for the best jewelry store ever. (I know it's my job to say that, but I was a customer prior to the job). Some days I find myself writing about the latest designer line or playing Santa and giving away jewelry and I can't believe I got so lucky. So blessed.
• Amazing friends. You know, friendship is a funny thing. Growing up changes friendships in a way that at first really frightened me. You don't always talk as much and people you considered your best friends move on with their lives. But then there comes a moment when you realize the coolest part - these people are more "there" for you than they ever were before. Yes, we all grow up and move on with our lives, but I've come to learn that if I ever needed any of these people they'd be there in a heartbeat. And that's what friendship is really all about, isn't it? So blessed.
• Sports. I really don't know how people cannot like sports. There is so much raw emotion behind them and so many great storylines. Picking a favorite player (love you Teej!), a clutch shot to win a game, a kickoff return for a touchdown - these are some of the great moments in life. Not to mention, game day dresses. Go HEELS! So blessed.
• North Carolina weather. How fortunate are we to experience all four seasons, but none of them too harshly? So blessed.
• Food. Obviously, I'm grateful for food on a purely sustenance level, but as I've grown up I've come to appreciate the ingredients in food and love experimenting in the kitchen. So blessed.
• And some more: Walking into a warm sunny spot on a chilly day, the peace that passeth understanding, pretty dresses, good books, fashion magazines, wine, girly tv, a good night's sleep, meeting a goal, writing.

Don't forget to take a little minute to be grateful.

(What's Supposed to Be) Monday Morning Review

We lost. Badly.  (33-10). Fumbles, interceptions (TJ tripled his interceptions this game by throwing 2 - he now has 3). It was just sad and bad. I hate Miami. They dance and throw their little U sign up. They are gross.

Looking forward to Homecoming this weekend! We play William & Mary. Word is former UNC backup QB Mike Paulus (now William & Mary's QB)  is talking a lot of smack to his old teammates, saying he is going to teach the Rude Boyz some manners. Oh silly Paulus.

(What's Supposed to Be) Monday Morning Review

Goodness gracious, I just could not be more proud of my Tar Heel boys. They have had to deal with so much this season, yet have gone above and beyond. Case in point: Saturday the Heels went to Charlottesville and took home a decisive 44-10 victory over those dirty Wahoos. We hadn't won a game at UVA since 1981 and we dominated it.

Extra kudos to Dwight Jones for his three touchdowns and to TJ Yates (always, always kudos) for continuing to be the steadying force behind the Heels.

We head down to Miami Saturday for what's arguably our toughest game this season. GO HEELS!

Yearly Dilemma

For the past three or so years, I have had the same dilemma. Now let me preface this by saying, this is not too serious of a dilemma, and really, it's one I'm blessed to have.  But as a girl who has always been indecisive (I'm trying SO hard to work on this rather icky trait), I hate something that makes me feel like a little bit of a hot mess.

I just penned all of the 2010-2011 Carolina Basketball games into my calendar. And I got SO excited.  Like giddy, butterflies in the pit of my stomach excited. I saw this is a year where we end the season with Duke at home and I got even more excited.

But then I got stressed. Enter dilemma. Am I a football girl or a basketball girl?

I grew up playing basketball. I've played since I was six years old and I have always been in love with the game. While not exactly a star player, I held my own which was huge for me. I've never really been athletic and to be able to competently play a sport (and even be relied upon to make the big plays) was a dream come true. There is nothing to me like the feeling of playing. I miss nothing more than playing basketball. 

I know my dad always wanted a kid who was good at sports and for me to even come close to doing that for him gave me the biggest sense of pride. Granted there are regrets.  I didn't practice enough to become the kind of player I really could have been and that will go down as one of the biggest regrets of my life. But for those few seasons when I was the "man" on my team - the one they would go to when they needed a winning three pointer, the one who played every second of the game - I was in love with the game of basketball.

So when my dad announced near the end of my high school career that we were getting UNC season tickets, I screamed. Lots. I've watched Carolina basketball since before I could speak much - "Yucky Wolf and Duke ::stick out tongue::" were among my first words/actions. I became the biggest Shammond Williams fan in the history of life at a young age. I was also fortunate enough to see a National Championship my freshman year of college (words.cannot.describe.this.experience). I love the Dean Dome, I love the defensive drill before games, I love the "I'm a Tar Heel" videos, I love the time my dad and I get to spend together at games, I love that you get to know every player on an individual level - I love Carolina basketball. It's also nice that I "get" it. Having played for over 13 years, I understand what's happening in basketball. I can read plays, I know the rules, I have a good grasp on basketball.

Now, let's talk football. I became a college football fan much later in life. I started getting into it at the end of high school and really started following it my freshman year when I went we went to a bowl game (Yeah, my freshman year was awesome).  Of course, I had always gone to the games, but I had never considered myself a die hard. Fast forward to now. Saturdays during football season are really my reason for living. I love wearing my football dress, tailgating and watching the Heels in Kenan. I have been known to cry when we lose big games (hello Meineke Car Care bowl 08 and 09, and LSU game 2010). I love Carolina football. Football is complicated though. There are some plays I really don't understand and sometimes a penalty is called and I'm left clueless. But nothing is better than a victory in Kenan.

If you asked me during football season, I'd tell you I was a football girl without hesitation.  But when basketball season comes around, I start to remember how much I love the sport and how much Carolina basketball has been a part of my life.

So am I a football girl or a basketball girl? At this point, I still don't know. But here's to another year of both, trying to figure it out. GO HEELS!

New House!

I've been so overwhelmed with sports, that I haven't posted much about this yet, but in a few months I will be moving! My friend Lauren's dad bought the cutest house in a great area and is completely renovating it for us.  I am so excited!! This weekend we picked out paint colors - it's starting to get so real! My room is going to be a khaki color with all my carolina blue accents and my bathroom is a pretty blue called "dockside blue," almost Carolina blue, but with a little more grey in it. It will be so nice to live in a house with a yard and a sun porch.  And it'll be fun living with Lauren - she's a really great friend.  AND we'll be saving money since we both live alone now! Can't wait!!

Monday (Close to) Morning Review

Oh goodness. Where to begin.  Well, the Heels pulled out a close one against Clemson this weekend. It was a beautiful day in which we enjoyed Tar Heel Town, the Old Well Walk and a tailgate.  The game was very close, but we came out on top 21-16, giving us a 3-2 record - which, all things considered I think is pretty good.

On Saturday right before the game they announced that Jonathan Smith would be out for the season (academic side of the probe) and that now Devon Ramsay was out as being possibly involved in one side or the other. That frightens me. Devon has played in all four games prior to Clemson, including two wins.  The NCAA could take away those wins because Devon played in them. I'll keep you updated.

Today UNC announced that Greg, Marvin and Robert Quinn were done for the season. Little and Quinn were declared ineligible by the NCAA and Marvin was dismissed by UNC. No word on sanctions yet.

The Heels (and I) are off to Charlottesville this weekend to take on UVA. We haven't won there in a bazillion years so a win would be huge.

New blog name and design - oh my!

Ok guys, over the past few weeks, "A Perfect Mess" had been boring me.  It was starting to feel like a rip-off.  Not that I copied anyone on anything, but the inspiration for the title was the Red Hot Chili Peppers song (still an incredible song - if you haven't heard it, go.download.now) and the site "mascot" if you will was Audrey Hepburn.  While I still lovelovelove the sentiment of "a perfect mess" and believe that we, and this blog, are all perfect messes, I want this blog to be uniquely mine.  Hence - Game Day!

Game Day! is perfect on many levels.

1) Whenever I wake up on football Saturdays (usually around 6am no matter our game time because I'm so excited) I text all my family and friends the words "Game Day!" They get really annoyed because it's way too early and I'm way too excited, but I can't help it - I really really love game days.

2) After waking up and annoying all my friends, I walk around saying "Game Day!" for most the day.  The only time this changes is during bowl season (if we're good enough to get to one) and I yell "Bowl Game!" all day.

And, most importantly,

3) Game days are perfect days. I look forward to them all week and savor every moment of them. There is no place I'm happier than tailgating in Craige and watching football in Kenan on a beautiful Chapel Hill day.  With this blog, I hope to get a little more of "game day" into every day.  Family, friends, food, fashion and football. Perfection. Or...a perfect mess. :)

Enjoy!

Gearing Up for Clemson...

Because of the (stupid, IMO) football expansion, Carolina has not played Clemson in Kenan since 2002.  That's a shame for many reasons.  1) Clemson is BIG time football. And it's always fun to play a big time football team. 2) For the part of my family that does not bleed Carolina blue (gasp, I know), they bleed Clemson orange.  Both my grandfathers went to Clemson and my dad's dad played football at Clemson.  I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Tigers - they are so spirited and they have the kind of football tradition that we'd love to have. That being said, I'd love to crush them Saturday.  We get Deunta back which will be nice and hopefully we can pull out the W.  Clemson is coming off two losses to big teams so they will be angry.  I happen to have a little tiger tail I found on the ground in Atlanta when we played LSU - should be fun for Saturday!

As for the game day menu:
-carmelized onion dip and chips
-sausage balls
-chicken nuggets
-pigs in a blanket
-frito dip and chips
-chocolate chip cookies

GO HEELS!!

Monday Morning Review

What a great weekend! Friday night we went to a Rams Club function in CH at Kenan.  First we ate dinner at a new restaurant called One - delish! Then we headed over to Kenan and even hitched a ride in Butch Davis' golf cart to have a couple glasses of wine in the staduim.  Kenan is so beautiful and being there at night was breathtaking. I love that place!

Saturday we had a great tailgate with family and friends (both Tar Heels and Pirates alike), before beasting the Pirates 42-17. I was so incredibly happy.  Searcy was cleared for this game and ran an INT back for a TD.  Shaun Draughn and Johnny White ran all over the place and were incredible (which, I made known to Shaun Draughn when I saw him after the game and ran up and high fived him and informed him that, 'You're Shaun Draughn!).

We're at home again this Saturday vs. Clemson! We haven't played the Tigers in a while so it should be a lot of fun! Deunta will be back for this game, so I'm looking forward to that! GO HEELS!

Sunday was Mom's birthday so I hung out with her all day, shopped, and ate fattening foods! I have the best Mom in the world!

Tube Socks.

So. My football team is imploding before my eyes (In parentheses summary:  They found all of Blake/Wichard's financial records.  Not good. Awful. Terrible), so I thought I would write about something else.  For those of you who want to know what's happening with my football boys, go to Yahoo Sports.  There is a very detailed article there that can enlighten you.  I, on the other hand, want nothing to do with it, so I'm going to talk about socks.

 You know what I love?  Affordable pleasures.  Of course I want a Range Rover and a new tv and a house and a hot tub and 20 different pairs of Louboutins, but those are pleasures I can't afford.  Tube socks, on the other hand, I can.  I really want some tube socks to wear around the house.  Maybe with Carolina blue stripes (can't keep me too far away from my beloved football team). I don't know why, but something about the nostalgia of tube socks is calling my name.  And if there are silly little affordable pleasures that make you happy, by all means go for it. Life is much too short (and filled with too many football scandals) to deprive yourself.

Monday Morning Review

A VICTORY! Saturday my (depleted) boys, beat Rutgers 17-13.  It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it. Thank goodness for Bruce Carter who blocked a key punt and got a huge interception. (and TJ, always thank goodness for TJ really.) Matt also got an INT which made my brother very happy! The fam came over to watch the game as their big screen died the night before! We had yummy food and cocktails and it was fun to host a little "game day" party.  Can't wait to have more of those in the new house.

The NCAA has made rulings on Deunta and Kendric... both of which we have appealed.  If the rulings stand, Deunta is out one more game (returning for Clemson) and Kendric is out two more (returning for Miami).  I'd LOVE to get one or both back for ECU this weekend.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Personally, I think both are a little harsh, but especially Deunta's.  Deunta went to CA to visit a former player (not an agent, not in any way affiliated with anything), paid for his own flight, hotel, etc.  The former player just paid for Deunta's ticket to Disneyland.  Now please, please tell me how a friend paying for another friend's ticket to an amusement park in CA relates to football at all.  I'd love to hear anyone's insights on that.

In sad news, the farmer that owns the real life Ramses fell off his tractor and is in critical condition.

In happy news, countdown to playing those dirty pirates is ON!

Monday Morning Review

We lost to GT Saturday 30-24 (same score as our loss to LSU).  We played well, but we could not stop the GT run - we are definitely missing our defense, especially our secondary.  Here's hoping some more players get cleared this week.  Despite the loss, it was a gorgeous day and I am beyond in love with Carolina and Kenan Stadium.  I know that's nothing new, but there is no where, NO WHERE, I am more sublimely happy than Chapel Hill and Kenan Stadium.  We had a great tailgate and it was a wonderful time with friends and family.  We're away at Rutgers this weekend and we really REALLY need the W.  Let's do it, boys!!

Return to Kenan...

Saturday marks the first home game of the season for the Heels, after the season opener in Atlanta and a bye week last Saturday.  Words cannot describe my excitement.  Shaun Draughn was cleared on Monday (HUGE) and word is a few more players should be cleared before Saturday's game.  Absolutely cannot wait.  I've been planning the tailgate menu, the 2010 Football mixes,etc.

It's a noon game - which I love!! Most people hate noon games, but I love them because I can never sleep in on football Saturdays anyway.  Might as well get up and go enjoy some food, drink and FOOTBALL! I remember in college I would go out on a Friday night and still be up and at 'em by 7:30 on Saturday for a noon game playing the fight song and cooking in my baby kitchen in Spring Lane.  Ahh, I miss that!!

Anyway, I know the football season already started, but since we've only had one game and it wasn't at Kenan, I sort of feel like it's starting Saturday.  I absolutely cannot wait to see my boys at Kenan Saturday.  I'll update on any more players getting cleared, but until then, enjoy your week and check out UNC football alum Chase Rice on Survivor tonight! :) Go Heels!

XOXO...

New episodes of TV shows start coming back this week, the first of which is GOSSIP GIRL! I absolutely love Gossip Girl. It is beyond my guilty pleasure. The clothes, the romance, Chase Crawford... the clothes. Cannot wait to get on the couch with a glass of bubbly and indulge in the latest drama of New York's upper elite!

Monday Morning Review

Well, there isn't too much to review sports-wise as my Heels had a bye week. Which, normally, would have made me very depo because I just got back into football season, but since we are in the middle of this NCAA mess, I'll take as much time as possible to get some players back and eligible for GT on Saturday. Word on the street (and by street, I mean the premium IC message boards) is 6-7 players are to be cleared this week. That would be AMAZING. Seriously. Shaun Draughn and Deunta were the first names I heard.

State won, Wake beat Duke and ECU beat Memphis.

In other news, the weather around Ral is absolutely gorg. After such a H-O-T summer, a high of 83 is absolutely welcome. Saturday Mom and I walked up to 5 points where they were having a little block party and did some shopping and got lunch. So much fun.

Last night I tried a new pizza place with friends. It was the perfect night to sit outside and enjoy a glass of vino.

Overall, it was a relaxing, excellent weekend. Time to start tailgate planning for Saturday. :) Have a great week y'all. Lovelovelove.

ATL Review

I got down to Atlanta about 6:00 Friday evening after perhaps the most fun plane ride ever. I was seated near about six other Carolina fans. All we did was talk football the whole time and one man treated us all to beers that we happily cheered to our football team. After arriving, I had to manage the beast that is the Marta, but I managed (I managed... after asking a woman who offered to drive me in her car and then told me she could tell I was from a small town and not to talk to strangers on the Marta. Okay, Raleigh may not be Atlanta, but it's not like I haven't traveled around the world... but I digress). Anyway, I found my family and we went to an amazing dinner at Canoe! So delicious! When we got back to the hotel and were getting off the elevator, we overheard a woman say, "I rode on the elevator with them! They've been cleared!" That is how we found out Bruce and Quan were cleared for the next day's game and we did a little happy dance in the middle of the 8th floor of the Renaissance Waverly.

The next day we got dressed in our game day attire and took the Rams Clubs bus down to the area near the GA Dome. We then went to the Peasant Bistro and had a lovely "tailgate" of wine, frites, gourmet grilled cheeses, steak, beer, prosecco... It was lovely :) After our lunch, we headed to the Fan Zone where the Heels were going to do a version of the Old Well Walk. Our team finally came out and so many were missing... like more than were supposed to be missing. We were so nervous!

We headed to the GA dome and watched warmups. Lis and I had some wine and Daddy had some beer. We never ate anything because, well, I know this doesn't seem possible (and I didn't believe it was until Saturday), the GA dome has worse/less food than Kenan. Daddy sat next to Anoop Desai which was exciting for my American Idol crazed family.

We started out the game well and were leading 10-7 in the second quarter. Then Lis and I went to the bathroom and to get more wine. Kiss of death. At half time the score was 30-10 and everyone had counted us out. In the fourth quarter we made the most incredible comeback lead by this week's passing leader in all of football, this week's ACC offensive back of the week, none other than TJ Yates. We had a chance to win it with two last plays, but couldn't complete. We lost 30-24, but I have never been more proud of a Carolina team. Way to do it Heels! :)

We ended up heading back to Raleigh a day early because of this crazy festival taking over our hotel called DragonCon. On the way back we found out that John Blake resigned... not a good thing. Will keep y'all updated over the next few days.

Lovelovelove and thank GOODNESS it's football season! :)

Distracted from Countdown

Y'all, I am so sorry that I got distracted from this countdown, but Thursday afternoon we found out that the football boys were involved in an academic scandal. The word is a tutor wrote papers for some of the team - names being thrown around are basically all of our NFL prospects on D. In turn, I have been distracted reading the boards and trying to figure out who will be on the field Saturday in ATL. Sigh, sigh, sigh.

The University held a press conference Thursday night to tell us that there was an ongoing investigation involving academic improprieties. Thorp began the press conference with the words, "If you love this University, then I'm sorry for what I'm about to tell you." And that's when I lost it. Sobbing. Everywhere.

Saturday was Meet the Heels. I didn't know what the atmosphere would be like going in, but it turned out to be a great time. We went to Top O first and had some Old Well Whites. Then I got pictures with Teej and Deunta at Meet the Heels.

We have no idea who will be playing in Atlanta, but whether its Bruce Carter or the little Broughton walk-on I will be cheering like crazy in my football dress. GO HEELS, see you Saturday! :)

Single Digit Countdown: 9

We are now in the single digits for our countdown to football season, to the glorious day of Sept. 4 when my Heels take on the gross LSU Tigers in the Chick-fil-a Kickoff in ATL. I've decided for each of the nine days remaining, I will give a reason why I love Carolina football.

Reason #9: (I'll start with the most trivial.) Dresses.
Football is the only sport where it is perfectly acceptable to wear a dress to the game (at least at Carolina... I know some lesser schools that roll their eyes at the idea of dressing up to go to a football game, but that is why they are not among the top schools in the nation). I love the idea of the football game as a social event. One where everyone dresses up, makes tons of southern delicacies for the tailgate, drinks bourbon out of a flask, and then proceeds to cheer like heck for their team of choice. I love things that are perfectly southern and dressing up for football is one.

On a more personal, vain note, dresses look pretty good on me. I tend to live in them. I hate when the weather turns cold and I have to wear jeans out on the weekends. Most of the time, I just ignore the weather and wear dresses anyway.

This year I have a killer football dress. I mean, perfection. It is about knee length, completely Carolina blue, sleeveless, v-neck. Perfectly comfortable, perfectly classy. Thank you Brooks Brothers.

And thank you Carolina football for deeming it not only perfectly socially acceptable to wear dresses to football games, but smiling upon it. The world needs more people (...errr... things) like you. :)

Jackson Simmons and the Scaredy Cat Volunteers

The Hardwood Heels got some great news yesterday as Jackson Simmons agreed to come on as a walk-on. Simmons averaged nearly 20 pts per game and had several scholarship offers from some great midmajors (I know, I know, what does midmajor even mean anymore? - he had offers from Charlotte, Davidson, ODU..), but chose to walk-on to the Heels instead. This is a huge pickup for us... I love to see the Carolina name meaning something to an in-state kid.

In other news, the Tennessee Volunteers are cowards. Seriously. They are willing to pay $750,000 to back out of a football game against us in 2011. Their reasoning -- they want to break up a really tough stretch of games. A stretch that includes, Bama, UGA, Pitt... so pick one of those games to back out of! Come on Vols, the Heels want to play!

Living the Dream

Do you ever have those moments where you realize you are, in fact, living your dream? I'm having one of those moments today. It's funny because when you are thinking about your dream life - you know, the dream job, your own place to live, a healthy and happy social life, inner peace, a fully stocked fridge and wine cooler (whatever your particular dreams are, mine just happen to include a nice brie and sauvignon blanc) you think it's going to be this groundbreaking insanely exciting thing. And it is, in a way. But life being as it is, and people being as they are, the "omg this is it," feeling fades quickly. Today I'm taking the time to step back and really look at my life. Upon doing this, it's clearly obvious that I AM living my dream. I am smack-dab-in the middle of my dream life. That, my friends, is insane.

When I first got out of school (two years and three months ago, le sigh), I was slightly lost. The economy was awful and I had some idea of what I wanted to do - but I wasn't sure. I knew writing had always been a love of mine and I hoped to get into some communications field, but besides that, I was lost. The summer before I got my first job, I lived at home (God bless my mother, I know I was difficult to live with coming off of a senior year of going out, only twelve hours of classes and more going out). That summer I made a "vision board." I really didn't know what I was doing, I just wanted to move out and into a place of my own. On the board there were apartment layouts from three different apartment complexes in Raleigh, there was a picture of me and my boyfriend, pictures of me and my family, and a fake business card I made dubbing myself a "PR specialist" or something similar.

Wow. Two years later and look where I am. I live in one of the three apartment complexes that were on my vision board (with plans to move into a cute house in a few months), my relationships with family and friends are stronger than ever and I am an account associate at a pr agency. AND I just got my first ever business cards to prove it. Hello dream!

Now, this post is most definitely not a "go make a vision board" post. I don't really think the vision board had much to do with me being where I am today. Honestly, the biggest thing I can credit is learning more about who I am (which at times takes some pretty serious and scary soul searching) and coming out the better for it. I don't have everything right now, but for now, right now is a pretty good place to be. :)

The letter B

Lately I've seemed to have an affinity for the letter B. Seriously. I really want a Bike with a Basket that I can ride to my local Butcher -- this isn't a joke -- I really do. I also really want to go to Bickett Market, a new farmers market in town. And then there are the perpetual standbys - Boys (always frustrating, sometimes worth it) and Birthdays (never frustrating, always worth it). Just a random observation.

I'm off to the lake in about an hour for my birthday weekend. All the boys (see what I mean about these b words) are coming up too. I hope Daddy doesn't get too stressed. I am craving some sunshine, beach music, and yummy food and drink. The new job is great so far - and my main client starts with a B!

Happy Weekend y'all!

Thank you...

As I'm sitting here on my second to last day of work, so many thoughts are coming through my mind. I am going to my dream job, but it's so bittersweet. I wanted to do PR out of school, but now I see things have happened just how they should (haven't I learned this lesson yet?!?). Getting the job here has prepared me for this new PR job. I have learned SO much in my time here, both life lessons and career lessons. There is one lesson, however, that stands out above all of them. On that note, thank you SA, for teaching me:

OPENMINDEDNESS. I remember when I first started here, I was shocked. There were two of us from the South. The rest were from England, Italy, even... New York. Even though I've travelled all over the world, I have been in a certain environment most of my life. Broughton and Carolina are both very southern, old money schools. And because of my family, I've been surrounded by those type of people often. Before SA, I felt a certain superiority for being from this background. Not in a financial sense - just in a "I'm Southern, I'm better," sense. I often found myself not relating well to people not from this same type of environment. Now I realize it's because I didn't try to relate. While I will always be a proper Carolina girl who loves her mama and daddy, can't get enough bbq, appreciates wine and cheese, would do anything for her Tar Heels, and puts college football before most other things in her life, I've learned that different types of people are what make the world go round. I have met some of the most amazing people here - people I never thought I would be friends with that I now cannot imagine my life without. Now when I'm not cheering for my Heels, I'm cheering for Inter-Milan. Instead of fighting with the nearest Duke fan, I'm fighting with an Ohio State fan. Instead of a sandwich from the perpetually Southern classic Village Deli, I'm getting a turkey club (so much better than Village Deli's) from Meridian Cafe, a local cafe owned by a Greek family from Jersey. While this job has not made me so openminded as to like Durham, it has opened my eyes to the beauty of difference and for that, I am forever grateful.

Some good news and vacay recap...

I got a new job. :) Junior Account Executive for a PR Firm in Raleigh. It's sort of my dream job. I start next Monday. I'm so nervous, but so excited to be starting on a career path. And to all you people still searching for jobs, don't lose hope! It's all about timing and not getting one now just means there is a better one waiting in the future. I'm proof of that. :)

Vacay was amazing. Lots of sun, food, and drinks. The Ritz was gorgeous as usual. I think I've forgotten how to open a door for myself. I've come back deciding I want to take singing lessons and surfing lessons. I know -- I've got lots of plans. <3 Lovelovelove.

Noooooooooooooooooooo

The NCAA is investigating our football program. The accusation is (please please please just be an accusation) that Marvin Austin and Greg Little talked to/received gifts from/did something illegal with agents in the off-season. THIS IS AWFUL.

The guys could get suspended or we could get sanctioned and they could take away wins from the upcoming season (these investigations usually last a while) or we could lose post-season eligibility. I want to cry just thinking about it. All before a season with incredible potentional. Ugh. I can't talk about it anymore.

"Dark Horse National Contender"

Oh.my.goodness!!! I just read an article that said we are a "dark horse national contender" in football this season. National contender???!!???? Whofreakingcares about the dark horse part... National Contender and North Carolina (football) have not been used in the same sentence since... well.... never. ANDDD the article said we would keep that status regardless of TJ's performance. THIS IS CRAZY. I absolutely CANNOT WAIT!!

Vacay I Can Almost Taste You...

I'M SO EXCITED. I'm officially four days away from spending a week at the Ritz in Amelia Island, Florida. This is my first week long vacay since I've had a big girl job and I plan on taking full advantage of it. Tanning, cocktails, dancing, shopping, food... all on Daddy's dime :) Thanks Daddy!

I'm trying to put together a few playlists for the drive down there (le sigh, I know, but we are stopping in Savannah to break up the trip)... Any suggestions from creative music people out there? (I really long to be a creative music person, but don't think I'm really cool enough to be...)

Happy Tuesday y'all! Lovelovelove.

Expectancy v Expectation

I was reading The Shack last night (again, I know) and I was particulary struck by a discussion of expectancy versus expectation. The excerpt was specifically in reference to friendship and how when we put expectations upon one another, we begin to live in the "noun" format, with laws and rules. When we live in expectancy, however, we are in the "verb" format, in a dynamic relationship that can grow and change without expecation and law being placed upon it.

Whoa... I LOVE THAT. I can think of several friendships I place expectation upon. I only end up disappointed and the person had no idea he was even doing anything wrong! I must must must learn to live in the verb format. In expectancy.

If I could make every student coming into college read a book, it would be the Shack. (I know that would never fly, but it would be sooo much better than whatever book I had to read about the army...)

Love and relationship over power and hierarchy. Expectancy not expecatation.

BRILLIANT.

Lovelovelove!

Entrepreneur Envy

I, like most, have always been jealous of those amazing women who can run their own business. Sure they work like heck and get little thanks, but they get to set their own schedule, make their own business decisions, and work with something about which they are truly passionate. Lately I've been wondering... could I be one of these women?? It's time to stop dreaming of it and make it happen.

I'm going to start small, of course. There's no room for quitting my current job to take on my dreams and falling flat on my face. But I'm going to start a catering service. Something small. Maybe a service where apt residents can buy frozen dishes to stick in the oven when they feel like a hot meal? Or maybe some delish tailgating treats? The details still need to be ironed out, but here goes quitting daydreaming and forging ahead. Happy Tuesday y'all!

I Know, I Know...

I'M SORRY. But when the only sports happening are the NBA playoffs (read: gag me as we remove every ounce of greatness from the sport of basketball and replace it with ugly uniforms, outrageous contracts, one-on-one flashiness, and a league that has never heard of the word "defense") and my money is running low (read: no money for Banana Republic or even banana splits) then my blogging topics come to a halt.

Friday night I saw Deon Thompson out in Chapel Hill. I, of course, pretty much attacked him as he was getting money out of the ATM, but he was very sweet and took a picture. People don't understand how I can get so excited about seeing Carolina basketball and football players, but to me, those guys are celebrities. Think about it: I tune into Carolina basketball at least twice a week during the season... that's more than my weekly visit with the stars of Gossip Girl or Law and Order.

I saw my first real life pair of Louboutins last week. Of course, I've seen them online and in stores, but last week my company's President from Italy came in wearing a gorgeous basic (can you even say basic when it comes to Louboutins? I think not) pair of black Louboutin pumps. I was in love the minute I saw those red soles as she walked down the hall. In love. Who needs boys when you have Christian?

Bad, once again

Hey y'all. I'm so sorry I haven't written in a while. I have had some stuff going on in my personal life that has consumed me as of late. But things are looking up now. and.. I AM GOING TO BE BETTER. Seriously.

The boys lost in the finals of the NIT. Sad, but such a good run considering the way we started!!

Spring football was a blast. The game itself was rather boring, but wearing a football dress, tailgating, and being in Kenan on a warm sunny day makes me smile. :)

Battle of the Blues...

No, we aren't playing Duke. I'm talking about our game against the also powder blue (though not quite as pretty) Rhode Island tonight. We face off at 9 at Madison Square Garden with a trip to the NIT Championship on the line. Also on the line is a 20 win season -- something that would be very nice for the record books. So many people had given up on this team and I am so incredibly proud of them. LET'S GO HEELS!!

Final Four, Once More

So it's the Final Four of the NIT...who cares?

The Heels defeated UAB last night 60-55. I saw smiles, I saw cohesiveness, I saw hustle, things I haven't seen all season... so I really don't care if it's the NIT.

The Heels ended UAB's 33 game home winning streak. And in the final seconds, the sold out arena (the first time the arena has sold out in years), shouted "TAR" and shouted "HEELS."

The boys head up to MSG to play the winner of tonight's VA Tech Rhode Island game next Tuesday at 9.

I am so proud of this team. No matter what happens from here out, this was the perfect way to end this season. Perfect.

...It's Not Going to Change Your Life...

As some of you know, I have tried to be better with my money of late. I have a rather sizeable debt to pay back to my parents and I want more than anything for that debt to dwindle down to zero. (Note: I think I'm doing pretty great at this - 450 dollars to each parent in the last two weeks -- thanks tax refund!)

It seems the more I try to be better with my money, the more I find things I want. (In reality, I think this is stemming from a greater sense of self, a clearer idea of my own taste and design style, but that's a whole 'nother post.) For example, the purple post it note on my desk is a list of wants. I realize these are all WANTS. None are close to needs.

Today I was on the elevator and a man was talking about drapes. He said, "Then you go with the regular drapes, not the silk drapes because silk drapes aren't going to change your life."

Well, I don't know what to think about that theory. New Lindsay Phillips flats probably aren't going to change my life, though they could change my business casual wardrobe drastically. A new tv probably won't change my life, but it will make watching Carolina games that much more enjoyable. A wine cooler isn't going to change my life, but it will ensure my wine is the perfect temperature when I get home at 5:00 on a Friday.

Yet, his point does have some merit. The Ray-bans on my list... probably won't change my life, or my wardrobe, or my level of sun protection. With that theory in mind, I bought some cheap, tortoise shell aviators from Target today.

In the end, I think the man's point is a good one, but shouldn't be used to extremes. After all, if my new flats with interchangable decor can go from work to dinner to drinks... can you really argue that they won't change my life?? I think not....

NIT Update

That's right... the Heels are in the NIT. We were considered "on the bubble" for the NIT, but somehow managed a 4 seed with the worst record in the tournament. I guess that's what the letters "NC" stamped on your chest get you -- and I don't mind.

We are currently in the "elite 8." We have won two tight games, the first over William and Mary, the second over the #1 ranked Missisippi State. The second was won with 2 seconds left with a left handed layup over the nation's #1 shotblocker. Guess who scored the layup? That's right... none other than my baby LD. :)

I honestly have never been so excited about the NIT. I cried when he scored. Cried. At the NIT. I continued to cry when I saw the first smile I've seen on his face in months. And when he looked playfully into the camera and said, "Hi mom!"... well game over.

Larry Drew represents a microcosm of the Tarheels this year. Talented, but often struggling, and always criticized. So to see him smile on Saturday, and to see the Heels look a bit cohesive, it chokes me up a little bit.

Tonight we play #2 UAB at 9pm. LET'S GO HEELS!!!

*Disclaimer: I know this picture is from high school. But look how happy he is? I like to think he was this happy after his game-winning basket on Saturday.

I.am.awful - part deux

I am really, terribly, incredibly awful. It has been over a month since I have written. I promise I have not forgotten about this little baby of mine -- I've just been SWAMPED at work. And then, weeknights between homework, pilates, coaching the tigers and trying to maintain some social life -- things have just been insane.

The boys have not beeing doing so hot... 15-14. Yikes. Senior night is tonight so hopefully we will step it up. We are coming off a win against Wake. I have never, ever, ever, seen a team fall apart like this one. The team that beat Michigan State and Ohio State often looks like they couldn't beat my tigers.

I promise I'll update more later. Really. Seriously. Honestly.

Lovelovelove and HAPPY MARCH!!

Down With the Woofies :)

c

On Tuesday night, my Heels came out to play. They played solid defense, executed well in the half court, and defeated NC State by 14 points. THANK GOODNESS. We definitely needed a win and a win over such a big rival is huge.

The boys were led by Larry Drew's 18 points, 7 assists, and 1 turnover. :)

Next game: Sunday, v. UVA, 7:45 (pending the weather forecast - we are expecting SNOW!!)

Transition Year

I will now, officially, deem this a transition year. My boys lost their third game in a row last night to Wake Forest. We were only down three at the half, but had an abismal second half. I will not badmouth them or be a fairweather fan, but I must be realistic. Here's hoping we make the NCAAs. Love my boys no matter what. :)

I.Am.Awful.

I haven't updated in two weeks! My apologies!! Things have been insanely busy/productive/exciting/scary!

Where to begin? I guess I'll start with one of the main topics of this blog, sports. My bball boys have not been doing so hot. We opened up 1-0 in ACC play with a win over Va Tech, but quickly dropped our next two to Clemson and GA Tech. Clemson was one of the most depressing games I've ever seen us play. This team just lacks confidence entirely.

I've started a writing class through UNC which is AMAZING! It's actually a lot of work,but I think it will be really good for me. I love reading and writing again. Writing used to be my lifeblood - I'm getting back to that.

Might try to work on one of my homework assignments in the next post. Thanks for being my guinea pigs! :) Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Monday Morning Review

The bball boys beat Albany by 18 (it really wasn't that close, but we played everyone) on Wednesday evening. My baby had a good game, but the highlight of the evening was the new "I'm a Tar Heel" commericial which featured, none other than the greatest two guard in UNC basketball history, Shammond Williams. "I'm Shammond Williams and I'm a Tar Heel." GOOSEBUMPS.

In other, AMAZING, news, all of our defense announced they are coming back, even Marvin. No one thought this would happen, especially me after seeing his tears at the bowl game. This means we will basically have the exact same team featuring one of the nation's best defenses. Time to step up offense!! (Love you Teejy!)

Bowl Game Trip SLASH Why I love Carolina

White Horse came to pick us up at 6am the day after Christmas. Waking up was no problem -- I had been up since 2 because I found out my best friend got ENGAGED!! (Which, if you know us, basically means I got engaged. I'll let her wear the GORGEOUS ring though.) Trying to sleep on the train was like a kid trying to sleep on Christmas Eve -- the excitment just makes it impossible.
We arrived in Charlotte and as soon as we walk in our hotel I see Deunta Williams. OH.MY.GOSH. So I call my brother over and tell him and we jump up and down and scream like little girls. Next thing I know THE ENTIRE TEAM is coming down the escalator. I could have gone back to Raleigh after that. It was amazing. Butch said "Merry Christmas" and "Go Heels" and I talked to Greg Little. (Actually I sort of stalked and pointed and said, "There's GREG!!" and he proceeded to come over and shake my hand and say "Whats up, How are you?" -- Again, could have gone home then).
We then went to lunch at this precious restaurant called Zinc. The food was delicious -- Daddy got some random beer and Lis and I split a bottle of wine (GAME DAY!). After lunch, we went back to the hotel where they were doing the equivalent of the "Old Well Walk" through the hotel. The team came through and high fived everyone. When TJ walked by Lisa yelled, "WE LOVE YOU TJ" and I honestly don't think I've ever seen someone look happier. Poor TJ has had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Everyone is giving him such a hard time when 2 years ago 2 eight win seasons in a row seemed impossible. But anyway, I digress. Back to the story. This is the part of the story that reaffirms my faith in athletics, gives me chills, and reminds me why I love my university more than anything. Marvin Austin came through on the Old Well walk, sunglasses on, per usual, but he was sobbing. SOBBING. I have never seen a guy cry so much in my life. If there was every any doubt he was leaving, it exited my body when I saw him. But can you blame him? And the fact that he loves Carolina enough to sob and visibly shake when he thinks about playing his last game, gives me CHILLS. Thank you, Marvin Austin, for reminding me why I love Carolina and college sports. You will be missed.

(What's Supposed to be the) Monday Morning Review

I took Monday off after a busy weekend in Charlotte so the Monday morning review is coming a bit late today. I will just talk about sports here and about the actual bowl trip (along with Christmas, why I love Carolina, etc, in a later post). Carolina football lost a CLOSE one to Pitt in the Meineke Car Care Bowl Saturday. Carolina lost 19-17. Pitt's a really good team and it was a very exciting game, albeit heartbreaking. Football season, I miss you already.

Carolina bball won a (too) close one Monday night versus Rutgers. We had very balanced scoring with 6 players in double digits (including LD and Dex). Dex had a pretty breakout game with 16 off the bench. Marcus was out with a sprained ankle. I hate that he's having to miss games again this season after last season. Next game is tomorrow night versus Albany.

Monday Morning Review

Thank goodness the holidays are here to give me some Christmas cheer because Carolina certainly did not do that with their loss to Texas on Saturday. We hung around for most of the game, but played INCREDIBLY sloppy. That includes my baby LD :( It was an all around dissapointing game.

SO SO SO hopeful for the bowl game next Saturday, but so so so scared. Pitt is a ridiculously good team with a defense that can also make the claim to be one of the best in the nation.

On another note, Dukie Jay Bilas had this to say about my baby:
Point Guard Larry Drew, the biggest question mark entering the season, has played more like an exclamation point. Drew has played with poise and control, and is averaging 9 points, 6.8 assists, and 2.9 turnovers per game. While not a speed merchant, Drew plays with good pace and has done a very nice job running the team. He has also hit some really important shots and has greatly improved his shooting from last season.

My dad's response? "Bilas obviously didn't watch the Texas game." BOO.

Snow?!

WRAL is reporting that snow could be heading to the Triangle tomorrow afternoon through Saturday morning!! SO EXCITED! Snow around Christmas?? That never happens here! Well, snow never happens here, let alone snow at Christmas! I just have to make it to 5pm today -- then pilates, Daddy's bday dinner at Coquette (YUM), holiday festivities at work tomorrow (hopefully including snow and leaving early!) Yayyy! Happy Holidays, bundle up and definitely use the weather as an excuse to rock some winter white :)

Brush with Greatness

If you are familiar with Chapel Hill, or if you consider yourself somewhat of a fashion afficianado, or even a sports buff, then you have heard of Alexander Julian. He is an acclaimed clothing designer, though his most notable contribution to fashion comes in the form of basketball jerseys for the UNC men's basketball team. Yes, Julian is responsible for the argyle that makes me feel we are better than every team in the country, even when we aren't playing better than every team in the country. Basketball + fashion? Definitely a man after my own heart.

Saturday I got the opportunity to meet this legend at his store, Julian's. He donned a bright red jacket and green pants - definitely festive - while sipping some varietal of red vino.

I introduced my family to my latest love in the store, the Glen Carolina bamboo scarf, and made hints that it was definitely atop my Christmas list.

Julian embodies the idea of a perfect mess by taking two seemingly unrelated things, fashion and sports, and marrying them into a beautiful, superior, national championship winning union. :) The fact that those two seemingly unrelated things are my two passions -- that's just the cherry on top. :)

Monday (Supposed to be morning) Review

No football news to update on as the Heels are resting up, practicing up, and otherwise swaggering up for the Bowl Game in less than two weeks! The Basketball boys took on Presbyterian. It was the game my brother and I go to while my dad and Lisa celebrate their anniversary at Elaines. We had such a good time. We won by over 40 despite Dexter and Marcus being out, and Marc Campbell playing 20ish minutes.

In other news, LD is 3rd in the nation in assists. That makes me happyhappyhappy. :)

Winter White

I lovelovelove the idea of winter white. Something about it screams I'm fashionable, I'm fresh, I'm clean, I'm crisp, I'm a snowbunny. I love that. I think I have a huge desire to be a snowbunny because we never get snow around here. And when we do? MAGICAL. The snow on the pines is gorgeous. Seeing the Old Well covered in snow is something I'll never forget. Yet, these snowy moments are few and far between for me, so until the next time I'll just wear my winter white and pretend to be a snowbunny. :)

Monday Morning Review - Depressing Style

It was a sad weekend, both basketball and football wise. The bball boys took to the hardwood at Rupp Arena vs. #5 Kentucky. The matchup was one that was discussed to no end because of Kentucky's freshman phenom, John Wall. Wall is a Raleigh Word of God graduate, but someone that we ended up not wanting because of character issues. (Or as Roy puts it, "Sometimes the shoe just doesn't fit.") Kentucky dominated for most of the game, but only ended up winning by 2. I'm really proud of the boys for fighting back the way they did; I wasn't sure if this young team could do it.

Last night they announced bowl games. Meineke. Again. Not happy. The plus side? The money we saved not flying will now go to a Bahamas trip in March. :) At least we're going to a bowl. We're playing Pitt who is #17 in the country and not a very good matchup for us...

National Champions Part Deux

A rematch of epic proportions took place at the Dean Dome last night as Number 11 North Carolina, defending National Champions, took on Number 2 Michigan State, defending National Runner-Up. Carolina started out hot and aggressive, shooting well and driving to the basket with more ease than normal. The game was a fast paced one and Carolina went into the half with a 16 point lead. The lead would not stay 16, however, as Michigan State battled back in the second half. Carolina fought to keep ahead, led by the scoring of Ed Davis, Deon Thompson, and Larry Drew. Dexter Srickland, Tyler Zeller, and John Henson played critical roles off the bench and the Tar Heels defended their title with a win over the Spartans.

"Increased confidence, increased playing time - just overall experience. I was born to play this game and this position. As long as I'm out there, I'm going to make something happen. I came out here to run the team and to win games." - Larry Drew II (18 points, 6 assists).

Everyone, remember I was there in the beginning. When fans got nervous when Drew came into relieve Ty Lawson. Remember that. All the rest of you -- bandwagon.

Cyber Monday!

Yesterday was Cyber Monday, the online equivalent to Black Friday. I am not quite sure how I have missed this phenomenon in past years (maybe the lack of an actual paycheck factored into the equation), but I was a proud participant yesterday. One of my best purchases? A gorgeous silk blouse (see picture, left) from Ann Taylor that I have been craving for some time now. It's normally 85.00 but I got it for 40% off yesterday. It's going to replace my silk white and black Banana Republic blouse that has taken a beating over the years.

To continue the shopping spirit, albeit not cyber, I headed out to Target at lunch with a $50.00 gift card in tow (Thanks Wes!) There I got a gorgeous feather headband, an incredibly comfy robe, and the most "I vacation in the Hamptons" slippers you have ever seen complete with cable knit detailing and pom-poms. I wore them last night as I began writing my Christmas cards. Happy shopping and happy holidays! :)

(What's supposed to be) The Monday Morning Review

I got up at 6:45 Saturday Morning in 35 degree weather to go support my boys at Carter-Finley. Thank goodness the tailgate was fun because the game itself was entirely and utterly depressing. We officially blew it. I can't write anymore without getting really upset about it.

Sunday evening the bball boys pulled out a close one against the other Wolfpack, Nevada. The game was entirely too close but LD had 12 points, 10 assists, and 1 turnover. :) It was a bit sloppy (per usual) but I was proud of us hanging in there when we went down late in the second half.

Tonight at 9:00 (break out the holiday coffee tomorrow am) I'll be in the Dean Dome watching a rematch of the National Championship. MSU is currently ranked 2, while we are 12. It should be a good game and a HUGE test of our ability to hang tough with a MSU team that has 4 of its 5 starters from last year back. Will post tomorrow. GO HEELS.

Sports Update

Shame on me for not having written yet this week about the sports of the past week or so. Last week the bball boys beat Ohio State (on two Larry Drew 2 clutch free throws, I might add) to take us to the Finals of the 2K classic tournament against Syracuse. The game with Syracuse showed me that an extension of the 2009 Championship team this team is not - and that we have huge amounts of growing and improving to do. Friday night Syracuse dominated and we looked... well awful.

Fast forward to Sunday noon, Chestnut Hill. The fball boys dominated BC 31-13, lead by Deunta Williams 3 interceptions on his birthday. That brings our record to 8-3 going into the final game of the season, NC State.

(Football side note: Recently learned that the Peach Bowl is held INDOORS. Do you know what this means?? I can wear any dress, any shoes, any perfectly adorable outfit I desire without the slightest regard to the temperature outside. IN LOVE.)

Monday night the bball boys played Gardner Webb at home. We looked a little better and it was a really fun game to watch. A good Daddy-Lindsay night. :)

Simple Pleasures

It's the little things in life... Like the new black croc jacks I got this week. While I'm forever in love with with my bronze jacks (they go with everything) I have been craving these for some time now. My wonderful mom surprised me with them on Monday. Since I believe jacks will be in my wardrobe until the day I die (more comfy than heels, more sophisticated than rainbows, perfect for football games) I have wanted this pair to add to my arsenal because I think they add that extra level of 'I'm very wealthy and sophisticated yet it just comes very naturally to me without any work' to any outfit. :) Depending on locations and weather, they very well could be bowl game bound in the near future.

Monday Morning (or close to it...) Review

Ohh a good football weekend makes it a little easier to wakeup on Monday mornings (especially when I get to sport my Carolina blue cashmere scarf, but I digress...). The Heels had an amazing day Saturday, beating the 14th ranked Miami Hurricanes 33-24, and becoming bowl eligible with seven wins. The defense was amazing with several interceptions, and TJ moved the ball down the field exceptionally well. There was one play, however, that I'm certain will remained engrained in my football memory for years to come. Kendric Burney intercepted the ball and began running down the field for a touchdown. At about the 40, the Miami defense was closing in on him near the right sideline. Burney managed to give a quick handoff to Melvin Williams as he was going out of bounds. Williams then ran the ball down the field to the endzone, where he was hit, and the ball flew loose. Williams dove on the ball - recovery Carolina - touchdown Carolina. :)

Sunday the bball boys hit the court against Valpo. In a much less exceptional fashion, the Heels downed Valpo by 11 points. While a win is always a good thing, it was a game that it was very hard about which to get excited. We lacked any intensity and played like we didn't care. It was good to see Bryce and Homer Drew on Valpo's sideline, though. It reminded me of my high school days and one of my most well received articles in the Hi-Times. I'll post it later for a nice blast from the past. For now, off to look at possible bowl locals (Charlotte, Nashville... Atlanta??) and think of corresponding outfits.. :)

It's baaaack

Basketball season that is. This the best time of the year - when basketball season and football season overlap and I get to spend every free moment in the southern part of heaven referred to by the commoners as Chapel Hill, NC.

But back to basketball.

We're 2-0 so far with wins over FIU and Central -- hardly powerhouses-- but a good start. We are ranked #4 in the country, a ranking many believe to be a bit high.

We are young and inexperienced and I've seen things that have made me cringe. But the things that we've done right... boy, have we done right.

The game against FIU was a bit shaky complete with 26 Tarheel turnovers (though, I must add, LD had six assists and only 2 TOs). The Central game looked like a different team. We still had our freshman moments, but we dominated overall and I saw flashes of a defense that won us the National Championship last year.

Quick scouting report before we get any further into the season:

Starting five
1. Larry Drew: LD2 is actually looking better than I expected. He has huge shoes (think Shaq size shoes) to fill with Ty gone, but he is looking a lot more steady this year. His defense looks solid, he's hitting the open man, and he's even knocked down a couple threes.

2. Will Graves: Will is looking a little chunky after not playing last season. He is very much the unknown factor right now.

3. Marcus Ginyard: This team would be nowhere without MG. He's in the best shape ever, he's defending well as always, his field goal percentage is up, and he's a vocal leader that will help mold the younger kids. He had 17 against Central.

4. Ed Davis: Ed is a beast, as always. That kid could play in the NBA today if he wanted. His rebounding and post moves will win many games for us.

5. Deon Thompson: Quiet killer. I always look up and Deon has 20 points when I think he has had 5. Another leader for this team.

Key Reserves:

-The Wear Twins: I'm not going to differentiate them yet, because honestly I can't tell who is who and who plays like what. (Side note: Daddy has decided we're calling them "Davis," a mix between David and Travis. When I asked him why we couldn't just call them the Wear boys he responded, "Because that's too pedestrian, Lindsay.") Don't know a lot about them yet, have just seen some good old fashioned effort and hustle. Always needed.

-John Henson: In a word, ridiculous. 6'10, plays like he's 6'3, blocks like he's 7'5...

-Dexter Strickland: Very athletic with lots of skill. Sometimes has trouble settling down into the offense. I would like to see him play some 2 alongside LD.

-Tyler Zeller: Looking better than ever. His work on the boards against Central was awe-inspiring.

-Leslie MacDonald: I haven't gotten much of a sense for Leslie, yet. I've seen him play some good d, but not much beyond that.

-Justin Watts: His role has definitely changed since last season -- at least in the early games. He's showing an improved shot and impressive athleticism.

Now time to savor the best time of the year. Go Heels!

Feathers.

Latest craving: feather detailed headband.

It's a dynamic duo.. a perfectly preppy, upperclass staple (a la Blair Waldorf) with an unexpected dose of the exotic. It's like the Hamptons meets Greenwich Village circa 1900. To bring it local, it's like La Rez meets Goodfellas or Solas meets the PR. Definitely a little bit of a perfect mess.

Revamping of the Blog

Over the past few days I have been giving "A Perfect Mess" a much needed makeover. I have played with it graphically and edited much of its content. The blog had become too much of a personal journal for me and while getting my thoughts and feelings out is important, that is the purpose of the 2-3 notebooks I fill up each month, not of this blog. While you will still probably see the occasional musing regarding my love life (or lack thereof) or social life, especially when I feel it applies to a greater message or a common good, I am going to attempt to leave the daily drama out. No room for that here. This is a happy, thoughtful place. :)

The inspiration for the title came from a Red Hot Chili Peppers Song, "Tearjerker." (If you've never heard of it, go.listen.immediately. Breathtaking. Seriously.) The song says, "She was standing backstage in a dress, a perfect mess." The sentiment is so beautiful -- that something can be a huge mess, yet still perfect. I think there is a little bit of a perfect mess in all of us. I know the term describes me. And this blog. Sports and fashion are my two passions, a combination that is unlikely, and in turn a bit messy.

When deciding on a picture for the title, I first thought of Helena Bonham Carter (Marla, from Fight Club). Marla is a giant mess in so many ways, yet I've always found her so incredibly intriguing and beautiful. I then decided she was too obvious a choice. Marla is definitely a mess, but she is a mess in the most blatant, observable way. Her clothing is dishevled, she attempts suicide, she attends cancer support groups to feel better about herself... definitely a mess. I then decided on Audrey Hepburn because I wanted to show the perfect mess in all of us. Hepburn is stunning, but had a life full of ups and downs, critiques and compliments, just like the rest of us. (She's also one of my idols, but that didn't affect my decision at all obviously.) I also thought this was a fun picture of her, a bit messy, a far cry from her usually prisitine appearance.

So welcome to the new "A Perfect Mess." Here's to accepting and embracing the mess within each of us.

Dressing Room Requirements

Today I was reading contracts that famous singers have and what they require to be in their dressing rooms when they agree to do a performance. This, of course, made me ponder... what will I require in my dressing room once I'm discovered? (Joking, of course, my singing voice rivals my grandfather's, the man whose version of "Peg of My Heart" scares little children -- though in my old age I find it entirely charming and endearing that he constantly sings this song to my grandmother, Peg)

Crystal Light "Natural Lemonade" Flavor
Sweettarts (the normal size ones, please, not the huge ones and not the little baby ones)
Cheese (a nice smoked gouda, white cheddar, grueyere, brie en croute, and roquefort would be lovely)
Bread (toasted with salt and pepper, of course)
Oil/vinegar
TI Cd (how am I supposed to do anything without my personal anthem, "No Matter What")
A good bottle of champy/prosecco (with proper flutes)
Captain (can't forget your old friends)
diet coke (NOT coke zero and WITH caffeine please (silver can))
Goodberrys - vanilla concrete with caramel and banana

Fball slipup

My boys lost Saturday to GA Tech 24-7. It was NOT a pretty game. I made a promise to TJ that I would not talk bad about him, so that will pretty much end this post.

Domination

Carolina beat ECU soundly on Saturday to secure a 3-0 record, the best start for the Heels since 1997. :) We had a great time tailgating and watching the boys march on to victory over those dirty Pirates!

Fball update :)

Carolina squeaked out a win Saturday at UCONN. The Heels trailed 10 - 0 in the fourth quarter and then proceeded to get a field goal and touchdown (and extra point) to tie it up at 10 all. Then it seems, the sports gods were on our side. UCONN got called for holding in the end zone -- which is apparently an automatic safety. I learned a new football rule! Carolina victory 12-10. Countdown to ECU is on.

Opening Football Weekend...

Carolina dominated Citadel in what should have been a shut out, but what ended in a 40-6 victory. The Tar Heels dominated on defense, but still appear a bit shaky on offense..something that won't cut it against ACC teams. The run game looked okay, but the passing game still needs work.

State lost. Duke lost. That's all that really matters.

The Florida St. Miami game was an intense one last night with Miami ending up winning by 4 in the final minutes. Both teams looked better than us... let's hope we can hang in there with the big boys this year. I think we can. Go heels :)

Awake...

I've always been a bit of a moody person. Most people I know would describe me as happy, but internally I've always had some pretty intense highs and lows. I attribute most of that to thinking with my heart and not my head, something that I have always vowed never to give up. I will always accept the fact that sometimes I must endure the lows for the most incredible highs that follow. But recently, I've felt a lot of nothing. Apathy and non-chalance have never been two words used in the same sentence as "Lindsay," but I have felt them often lately. I have felt like I was sleepwalking through life, more sad than happy, but not sad enough to do anything about it. I felt, for lack of a better term, asleep.

In the past few days though, I have woken up. I'm not sure what caused it, but I have suddenly been graced with all the ambition and energy I had before. I have been reminded that I AM smart and worthy. All my dreams and goals have been pouring over me in a way that I can only describe as intoxicatingly overwhelming. But it is such a welcomed overwhelming feeling. I have missed you, Lindsay. :)

I believe...

I was reading another blog today and she mentioned a series called "I believe" that was on NPR. She wrote her own and I thought I'd do the same. Thanks for the inspiration. :)


I believe that family is not only who we share blood with, but also those we would shed blood for. For that reason, I will forever be a believer in adoption, both literally and metaphorically.

I believe in forever love. Love that won't go away even when we want it to.

I believe in princesses and fairy tales and all things magical.

I believe that icecream and a rum and (DIET) coke (together or separately) really can change a bad day.

I believe that divorce/betrayal is the worst thing one can experience.

I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. And a third. And a fourth. People can change. And if you see a little bit of yourself in everyone, how can you ever pass judgment on anyone?

I believe that the outfit you wear to a football game CAN affect the outcome. For that reason, wearing dirty clothes is okay for Football Saturdays if your team is on a winning streak.

I believe in the power of prayer. "Letting go and letting God" is the most powerful lesson I've learned in my twenty three years on this Earth.

I believe that fashion can change the world and unite people from all corners.

I believe in less judgment, more grace. :)

ready.for.football.

that's all. :)

things i lovelovelove today.

Today I lovelovelove:

my diploma hanging in my office, hercules hooks (thank you jmcclenn!), thursday night fun with kay-j, icebreakers sours, my new vitamins, the fact that goodberrys will soon be in camvill (a fact my waistline does not lovelovelove), the song i love your love the most (describes my life!), the fact that fball season is ohhh 49 days away :), my birthday is soon (ok, i know i said i was not excited, but its me, its a birthday, and a VALID excuse to wear my tiarra and make people call me princess), the fact that im a rams club baller and moved up another level and will get the MEDIA GUIDES!!

lovelovelove.

Skirts and the like (the REAL subject matter of this blog)

I got two new amazing skirts this weekend. One is black with the most amazing detailing. Front pockets, back pockets, a belt..all with amazing buttons. The other is a textured grey skirt that I must say looks absolutely fierce today with my new white T (love you Target - think cute fitted white T, not gangsta white T) and my prized, beloved yellow heels (what will I do when you are too scuffed to wear???-- the day is coming soon I fear). Looking cute at work makes my day just that much better. :)

NonProfits....

This weekend went so well! The walk was a huge success. Two of my boys came out dressed up in heels. I am so blessed to have such amazing and supportive friends! I lovelovelove you guys. We raised a ton of money for the Women's Center and had a great time doing it. Allison and Elizabeth did an incredible job of organizing everything -- they are two truly amazing and inspirational people. Then Bpais was Saturday night -- such a good show! I spent Sunday morning with one of my favorites and Sunday afternoon just relaxing.

Still on my mission for change... (I feel like Obama). I really want to get involved with non-profits. I would lovelovelove to do something with orphans or an adoption agency. Will start researching in the next couple days. Happy Monday!

Craving...

I just got the biggest craving to lay on the quad...debating going over to CH for lunch, getting some alpine, and pretending im a student... :)

...Profession: Student

I'm going back to school. EEEEEKKKK. I cannot help but smile ginormously when I say that. I'm not exactly sure in what form or fashion, but I'm going back to school. :) I might just start with an online course through the Friday center -- while I'd love to be on campus, I miss learning/studying in general and this would help to fill that void. I'm thinking I might shoot for law school, fall 2010. EEEEEEEEEEEEEK. I know there's not really a chance I'd get into Carolina...a little greater (but still not good) chance I'll get into Wake... we'll have to see how far my lawyer connections can go. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK.

rant for the day: i.hate.state.

I'm a Raleigh girl, born and bred. I was born in Rex Hospital, grew up in the same ITB house my whole life, went to Broughton, remember the old/real North Hills, attended Icecaps games....heck, I even went to State games in Reynolds. That being said, I hate N.C. State. I don't really hate the school itself, that much. I normally judge a school by its athletics, and well, even on a good year State is mediocre at best. Yes, it is a little redneck (Moo U anyone??) and its fans are a little harsh, but I can live with that. Some of my best friends go/went to State and they aren't terribly horrible people. No, the thing that makes me hate N.C. State is not the school, athletics, or fans...it's the campus. State has by far one of the grossest campuses I have ever seen in my life, if we can even call it a campus. Spread out over Raleigh, it looks nothing like the pristine quads of shade, grass, and trees that I am used to (Ok, I'm a little biased having attended the prettiest University in the country). While I do not have the best sense of direction, I manage to get lost every time I am near State. Case in point, last night. I attended the Hurricanes game (not a State event, but at a State facility). It took me almost an hour to find my car in the gross gravel parking lot across from the gross dirty fairgrounds. The parking lots don't have names, they just say things like "North" "South" "East" and "West." Honestly, do you think I know which direction South is?? And if I don't know, I really doubt the average State fan is going to know.

Calm Down

May is officially 'calm down and let fate play its role in my life' month. What happens, happens. :) I can't control my destiny, so freaking out about it for hours on end is pointless. Time to calm down and be 22 for a while. Yay.