10 Things Southern Women Do On Facebook

Inspired by the very funny Things White Girls Do On Facebook and Things Black Girls Do On Facebook let's examine 10 Things Southern Women Do On Facebook... And yes, I've done some of these things...

1) Share wedding pictures of themselves in cowboy boots.

2) Pimp their Mary Kay/Tastefully Simple/Thirty-One website.


3) Post pictures of their sweet, precious double-named baby daughter (Anna Grace/Mary Kate/Lilly Beth) in giant flower headbands.


4) Post pictures of Anna Grace/Mary Kate/Lilly Beth's double-named big brother (Jack David/James Henry/John Mark) in a monogrammed, smocked Jon-Jon


5) Tell their dead grandmas happy birthday ("We lost her in 2001. She would've been 98. RIP Nana Brown.")


6) Let the world know what they've got in their slow cooker. ("My house smells sooooo good! Barbecue chicken in the crock pot!")


7) Post pictures of their latest haul from Publix. ("Can you believe I got 18 cans of cream corn for $1? I love coupons!")


8) Link to pictures of bible verses they found on Pinterest.

9) Declare their love for formulaic romantic comedy. ("Have you seen All About Steve? Best movie ever!)


10) Become a football expert around Labor Day weekend. ("Special teams needs to get their heads in the game and our pass defense could use some work! RTR!")

2011 Wrap-Up

So I thought I was 100% done with this whole blogging thing until I recently noticed that I've been posting these multi-paragraph comments on my friends' Facebook walls. How annoying is that? Apparently I have things I really want to say. I'll spare them (and Zuckerberg). I guess I forgot how much I like to hear myself speak.... or... read myself type?

At first when I started to type this post I thought I'd try to recount my parenting/homemaking/life successes and failures for the year (a crunchy epic win-epic fail kind of thing), but the more I thought about it the more it seemed stupid to call anything in life an epic win or fail. It's all really just a work in progress. Anyway, these are the things I've attempted this year and the status of these.... let's go with "projects."

1) Weight loss -- After a slow start in the Spring I'm proud to report I'm down about 25 lbs since July thanks to the very awesome My Fitness Pal (I mostly use the free app) and my wonderful local YMCA and their kick butt free childcare. I've been slacking since a little before Thanksgiving, but am looking forward to getting back into my workout routine after the first of the year.

2) General craftiness -- I would call this category a total failure if it were not for my new found love of Pinterest. I still can't sew or knit or turn an old wine bottle and a piece of plywood into a stylish end table (like some of my very talented friends), but I can make snow paint (a super cool mixture of equal parts white glue and shaving cream) and turn paint chips and an old frame into a dry erase calendar.

3) Cloth Diapers -- So I really do love cloth diapers, they are super cute, very absorbent and ridiculously addictive. We used cloth exclusively for a solid 6 months. But then I got super busy with work projects and had a difficult time keeping up with the laundry. There are now disposable diapers back in the rotation. However, kiddo seems very interested in potty training now and I'm hoping to use mostly cloth trainers.

Just because he's so good looking

NAIAS and Ford Green Day Two

During the second half of my trip to Detroit I got the opportunity to learn more about Ford's overall vision for sustainability. I toured the Rouge River F-150 plant, tested out some new vehicles and heard Ford's plans to make fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly vehicles affordable and accessible for all. It was great to hear from the people in the front offices that issues like global urbanization, total life-cycle conservation, conflict minerals and corporate social responsibility both in the U.S. and abroad were at the top of their list of concerns.

NAIAS and Ford Green Day One

I’ve had a great first 24 hours in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show and Ford Green Driving Technology Event. I’ve been unexpectedly moved and impressed by many of the car companies' commitment to sustainability and fuel economy. Is it all just lip-service following a trend in green living? Who knows? But I’ve felt a sincerity from many of the company representatives (And believe me, I’m as skeptical and cynical as they come.)

On Sunday night I had dinner at the Detroit Institute of Art in the Diego Rivera Gallery. Those beautiful murals represent an unlikely partnership between American industrial businessman Henry Ford and Mexican communist artist Diego Rivera. (Take note partisan politicians – amazing things happen when opposites work together.) Also at the dinner was Edsel Ford II, great-grandson of Henry Ford. He came across as not just another PR wonk or executive spouting the company line.

Edsel Ford II speaking at the Ford Green Event Sunday

This morning I got the opportunity to attend the Ford press conference where they unveiled a new line of fuel efficient gas, hybrid and electric vehicles. I haven’t had time to study all the facts and stats behind their new lines, but Ed Begley, Jr. spoke in favor of the new Ford line, and if it’s good enough for Ed, it’s probably good enough for me.

Remember guys, I'm just sharing my impressions and experiences at this event as an average person who's trying to be greener. I'm no expert, but I'm going to share the information I learn with you.

*Fun Fact: There are two pair of recycled blue jeans in the roof lining of the new Ford Focus*

More to come!

*I was invited to participate in this program by Clever Girls Collective, Inc. in partnership with Ford and Ogilvy PR. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the 2-day Driving Green Technology event, I was not compensated in any other manner for my time.  My opinions posted here are my own.*

Why now?

I've had some people ask me why I started this blog now. A large part of it is because I think I'm fascinating and love to hear what I have to say. I have very healthy self-esteem like that. But honestly, it's because the vast majority of my girlfriends and several of my family members are pregnant with their first babies and I find myself sending them long emails filled with unsolicited advice about breastfeeding, baby gadgets, discount baby gear, postpartum care, the whole nine yards. It must be wicked obnoxious. This blog is my gift to them -- so I will leave their inboxes alone and let them enjoy the rest of their pregnancies. You're welcome.