Busy July Plans!

Hello!

I had a great with the family in Panama City celebrating Mom's 50th Birthday!  I am glad we got to do something to spoil her... she deserves it every day!

You can see more of my pics on FB by clicking here: Mom's Bday/PCB Pics

This next weekend I get to see Sissy again because Mom and I are headed to Birmingham for a baby shower in honor of Ashley and baby Grayson!  Can't wait!

I LOVE my sister's college friends who are hosting this shower... can't wait to see them!

Then the next weekend we are traveling to Asheville for my cousin's wedding and for me to throw my sister a shower in our first hometown.  It is a neat experience to be there amongst the friends and family who knew US as babies and now we are welcoming the next generation!  I am looking forward to seeing the cousin-groom Zac and his pretty bride, Annie.  She has been a part of the family for so long and we've built great friendships with her so to see them officially tie the knot is something we are looking forward to. 

Lots going on this July! How is yours??

Big plans? Tell me!!

peace and love

baily

Ohhh, and Millie.  She says hi!

Yeah, she's doing alright... just chillin' out with her Momma this summer! ;)

Summer Solstice!

For some reason, my metabolism is a rockstar and I get to eat yummies like this and barely gain any weight.  Since last night was Bachelorette night, I indulged in an iced coffee & donuts from DD... I have no idea why I don't weigh 200 pounds!

Then we hung out on the couch and watched our guilty pleasure of a show...

It was a wonderful Monday night full of sweets and sweet puppy faces!

Happy Summer Solstice!

Get out under the sun and get some natural Vitamin D :)

peace and love

bai

summer love

summertime is calling me....

I believe in remarkable, endless summers.

I believe summer is colorful and bold - yet, serene.

I believe summer is when I rock and roll the best.

I believe in Carolina slaw dogs and Coca-Cola from a glass bottle.

I believe in red high heels, reggae music, and Sangria.

I believe in counting down the days all summer until college football season kicks off.

I believe in longer days and starry nights.

I believe docks are for dangling tanned legs and kissing a lover of the season.

I believe life is grandest in the summer.

I believe in tie-dye, music festivals, and wearing flowers in my hair.

I believe in sand castles that melt into the sea and Rayban tan lines that glow on my skin.

I believe in raw oysters with lots of horseradish.

I believe in good music, packed down coolers, and groovy friends.

I believe in hippie dresses, fedoras, and beach waves.

I believe in Farmer's markets and fresh-squeezed lemonade.

I believe in nature. And love.

I believe in taking a bikini and beach towel with me everywhere I go.

I believe summer is meant to be spent spontaneously.

I can't wait for summer. I'm glad it's basically already here in Orlando.

peace & love

baily

what's your favorite part about summer?

summer time is calling me

My mom called me out on it, and I am officially sorry. I hadn't realized that I haven't blogged since the weekend! That's so unlike me. I'm back.
I know you missed me.
I snapped it back into gear today, talking about my blog swag here, when I saw a Facebook post from my mom.
"Just wondering why my favorite blogger hasn't updated her blog in awhile? Yesterday 9:51pm
Here's why:
The weather in TUSCALOOSA has been rather amazing lately. Last Thursday I thought I was going to be swept away in a monsoon. Honestly, I thought "oh my gah, we are about to be like Nashville." I can't handle that, I'm telling you - don't even want to think about it. I pray for those disaster victims every day because I know what it feels like to see everything you love - that money can buy - sit ruined. Puts things into perspective.
Anyways, after the intense sesh of thunderstorms and scattered showers last week, it's been B E A U T I F U L in T-Town. May, is the best time ever in this state. In June, you're playing with fire if you think you can lay out without a pool or other preferred body of water that can cool you off. By July, you're just plain stupid if you think you can tough it out. It's physically impossible. But right now, in May, it's not the most comfortable heat - I mean, it gets friggin' hot, but you don't NEED a swimming hole, but by the time you get out in your redneck lawn chair and get settled you start to really wish you would have rethought the situation and posted up at a pool. Then you figure a splash in the face with the water bottle will do. Then, splashing your face with your water bottle reminds you of being a kid and remembering how absolutely glorious it was when someone's mom on the soccer team packed the little white cloths soaked in ice that she brought over at halftime. The orange slices were cool, and I used to really dig that halftime experience, but the mom that went COMPLETELY overboard at Sam's Club before the weekend's game needs to pump the breaks and not give me a Hi-C juicebox. I've got my huge ass water jug to satisfy me. Go back to the other sideline now, psycho mom. 
(note: My mom was never a psycho soccer mom. She was one of the 'cool' soccer moms.)
(re:note: Except during try-out week for club soccer. My sister and I both HATE the first week of June for that reason. That's a whole 'nother B L O G I will post about some day!)
Anyway, so I've been outside, in my redneck lawn chair, and wishing I had one of those gallon sized water jugs I toted all through hell and half of Georgia during my soccer years. And I've ALSO wished I had a soccer-crazy mom here to give me one of those perfectly rolled, iced down rags. Get those at Sam's, too?
That's why I haven't been blogging. My body was craving the vitamin E that it so badly needed. Since I cracked on my mom for a second there I have to take this opportunity (while we're on the subject of tanning and vitamin E) to razz about my Dad for a moment. ( Note: Momma knows how she was when she went full force into "soccer mom" mode, so she knows I'm just knockin' on her, Ashley does it too!).
My dad has a perma-tan.
Not kidding, a friend of a friend saw my Dad when he was here after the fire, and asked what nationality I was. "White, she tans really dark, but not to where she looks like she's non-Caucasion."
"Yeah, that's what I thought. I just didn't know if they were from one of the islands or something. Her Dad is like super-tan. And like a real tan, not a fake tan."
"Yeah, he really is ALWAYS tan, now that I think about it. Like Saban."
Except Saban doesn't smile. My Dad does. Especially when he's in the sun.
He swears by Vitamin E, the only natural source being the sunshine. I mean, because of his profession, Dad knows his pharmacology and is ridiculously well-versed on medicines, vaccines, and such.  But he'd be the first one to tell you that sometimes it's not what the doctor orders that makes you feel healthy. Just lay out in the sun. Quit being a hermit crab, you're almost blinding me you're so bright. Right, Dad? (Not you, of course, just the dweebs that don't lay out in their driveways.)

POP QUIZ: What is my Dad's favorite thing to do?

a.) yard work

b.) hosing down pool lanai/back patio

c.) sun bathing

d.) all of the above

The correct answer is d.) all of the above. Seriously, our house is like a playground for him on Saturday's. But sun bathing I think is his favorite. I can just see my parents when they're senior citizens. Somehow, someway, however, my dad won't look like a senior citizen. The man doesn't age. But they'll be tan... and permanently beachside and oily. And in love, they're so cute. But seriously, Dad will be that grey headed old man that wakes up at the crack of dawn, at their Marco Island condominium, to go run around in the sand doing "high intensity" workouts. I'm pretty sure the last time I was inside a gym working out I saw where they offer "high intensity" workout sessions... in the air conditioning. I might be mistaking, because Lord knows it's been a while since I've been in "gym mode." 

But the point is, a sun worshipper such as my Dad, is that man that will retire by the sea, and never lose his tan.

But for now, since he's not retired yet and all, he soaks it all up in the driveway. Of our corner house. I haven't even told you the best part yet.

There are two things that sets aside the truly passionate sun-bather from the total wanna-bes.

1. The truly passionate sun-bather has a chair like my dad's. And the ottomon. (Black, of course. It attracts the sun more.)

WiLL WorK for FOOD

  WiLL HaVE a NeaRdeaTh ExperiEnCE for a PeRMa-TAN

and

2. The truly passionate sun-bather receives a mist stand for the outdoor hose as a gift from one of his daughters.

Mist totally puts to shame the iced down cloths that the psychotic "Team Mom" brought over at halftime. She was probably just trying to get some gossip, so that she can "1 up" the equally obsessed other mom's when it comes that time of year... da na na na... TRY-OUT WEEK!

Don't get sad, Mom. It was fun while it lasted. Now, we all have less risk of a heart attack because of that first week in June no longer being life defining. You took care of business, though. Didn't she Ash?

So there's where I have been. I have been laying out in my chair, which makes me think of my dad, which made me give you the background rundown of his Vitamin E addiction. Then when I thought of Dad, I thought of Mom, and how I loved those iced down rags, and then I told you how my Mom wasn't a bonified psycho soccer-mom, but she was borderline at times. Try out week? Buckle up!

Oh Dad, by the way, those chairs that you got me when you & Mom visited that weekend before the fire... well, you were right, they are good sun-bathing chairs. I should have trusted you all along though, because you and your Hawaiian Tropic tan had your butt in one of them in Ashley & Tyler's driveway the second all the women started fighting over the hand-made curtains. I have a problem, though, and I feel like you are the expert/Dr. Phil of sun-bathing. How do you suggest I go about tanning my back? You might not know, though, because I feel like you always tanned your back while doing yard work. Too bad you can't really catch a tan (to your standards, at least) when you turn loose on the lanai with the hose. Because you'd be pretty sun-kissed by the 4th hose down, and you'd be deeply bronzed by the 6th. That damn UV-Ray protection on the pool screen, huh? Oh, P.S. You missed a spot.

In all seriousness, I'm going to get my blog on and tryyyy to stayyy awayyy from the lawn chair. Scientific evidence proves that addiction is hereditary. I wonder if your crazy level during your child's try-out week is hereditary, too. Probably.

I'm so H A P P Y that it is summatime. I'm loving music, the sun (you got that by now I'm sure), friends, my tanning buddy (Millie), wine on the front porch, the smell of citronella candles, baseball, watermelon, and new flowers popping up on the side of the road. And perma-tans. And soccer moms.

I look forward to blogging about summer! I'll give you a run down on what it all entails except the best part can't be told. Summer time is when all the spontaneity turns lose. And I've got senioritis. And I'm busting out into this new beginning... with a bikini on.

PeaceANDLove

Baily J

i want to be her right now.

i do actually miss being a little florida girl.

i wouldn't mind this view for a week or so.

relaxing? fo' sho!

you, right there... you're my favorite place ever.

rum point. grand cayman. heaven on earth.

i would probably make myself an island girl. and maybe eventually I could be even (skin tone, speaking) with butch.

i need to plan one of THESE for this summer.

a trip to a lake house with friends.

i'd even do the river. i'm in alabama, i'll take what i can get. especially since there's not a huge risk of alligator and shark attacks.

this HAS TO happen. jaxapalooza 2010. 2009 was AMAZING, but we can outdo it.

attention boriquas (oviedo ladies), let's get to it and do it.

sitting beachside at a tiki bar drinking hella-delicious mango lemonades with the most awesome group of girls in the world? Well...... don't mind if i do!

adult cousins. mom/dad/aunt/uncle's bar tab.

grove park inn piano bar.

yeah, where all the rich and famous stay. the wine and cheese crowd.

summer reunion = rip roarin' and whiskey bent.

pardon our inner redneck, we don't do wine and cheese.

can't wait for this summer's reunion. ash and ty will be there. and chace will be thrown into the reality-tv show life of our crazy (but amazing) family.

Ow! Ow! I love summer :)

Get your bikini on, grab your huge ass water jug (and good luck at try-outs), or get your dorm room "sphere chair" out in the driveway and grease up because it'll go by fast.

and you know what that means....

F O O T B A L L season!!!

(when Saban debuts his high def quality perma-tan)

.

the wayne newton of college football

coinstar&colors

Title: Coinstars and Colors

By: one of Baily Jones' ater-egos "The Philosopher"

Series: Philosophy Of Life On Days I Forgot To Take My Meds

Kathleen came over and picked me up to do a very "Baily/Kathleen" thing. We ate food (a reg), and she made me eat healthy because that's just how she is. She reads "Shape." Then we went to Publix. She did pick up a few groceries, but the main reason we went was to use the "Coinstar" system. Broke + Weekend = a miserable, no fun weekend.

I got 24 dollars 98 cents back. Then it took away 8% for a service fee (because this machine works so hard in the 37.4 seconds it took to count my half-ful sandwich baggie of coins) and I was left with 22 dollars and 98 cents. I wish it would have just taken the 98 cents as another "service" tip or rounded up or something. I mean, wasn't the sole purpose of me doing this to make use of the change I had lying around my room, car, and at the bottom of my duffel bag purse? Gee, thanks for this giant wad of coins, Coinstar. That's 1/2 a beer at Happy Hour.

Kathleen laughed at my misfortune. Then I saw the floral department. I had started my day off in an ill mood (that's another story) and I saw a new variety of spring flowers, and the small price, and I convinced myself to buy them within like .4 seconds. With my Coinstar money of course. Hello! My name is Baily and money burns holes in my pocket. I was economically aware, however. Instead of buying two small bouquets, which would cost me 6 dolla bills, I bought one large bouquet, which cost me 4 dolla bills, and split it in half. I had fun playing with them when I got home, and finally I snapped out of A.D.D.-ville and realized I'd spent wasted way more time on these bargain flowers than I should have. Then I lost something, and I've wasted a seriously pathetic amount of time on trying to find it. So basically, other than knocking out a couple of random things on my to-do list, I've produced these 2 flower arrangements and not much else. Oh, here, I wrote some letters today on my new (duh) stationary that I'm obsessed with. Here are my quick pics sent via the CrackBerry so continue to disregard my photography skills until that glorious day when I get my personal claims check from State Farm and I can replace my beloved digi-cam.

Don't you love my turquoise vases? I found them The bedside vase was found here and the one with John Lennon and his words of groovyness was found here. (I frequent these places, on the reg!) I was very excited about my psychadelic colored bouquet. When we were standing in line to pay, Kathleen goes "those flowers really are pretty, they like, look like you. You know what I mean? You can tell Baily picked those out."  I liked that. I guess bold and funky girls can be a lot like bold and funky flowers... add a little color to your life. These walls are still bare and the space in this room still swallows the matter of my possessions, but the flowers have made me feel a lot more at home and they've also made it an enjoyable room. I hope that girls like me do that in life. I know that I can be a little coo-coo (or a lot) and I know that I can irritate the snot out of you, but I hope I make my presence an enjoyable one or that my personality is welcoming and makes people feel "at home" because that's what I think of myself, a down-home girl with some spunk and a little sass.  Ok, maybe a lot of sass, or too much sass, but everyone has sass, and that's not the point, nevermind. (See how distracted I get? I still haven't found what I'm looking for, by the way). I just hope I bring color to people's lives and not that dark/grey kind of feeling that none of us wants in our lives.  I know that the sugary-sweet type of girls add the pleasantly pretty pastels to life that we all enjoy. The vixen type of girls that we all (top)secretly love but don't admit to loving because she's a celeb-skank or hot mess or whatev, well they add the bubble gum pink and reds. Oh, and the bleach blonde color, too (come on, 'fess up, who doesn't have a favorite bombshell skanky blonde?) The Billy Bob Thorton-era Angelina type girls add the steel greys and smokey blacks that we all enjoy as long as it's not a total emo over-kill. The surfer girls add blue hues and the ranch wives and daughters add the green beams. But girls like me, hopefully add the colors of my bargain bouquet. Summer-lovin', musicfests, and coulda woulda shoulda been there at Woodstock type of girls. I'm not really an Earth-Tone type, because those girls don't eat meat, or white bread, or sip fabulous martinis in cocktail dresses. See what I mean, I come in all various sorts. One day I'm tiedyed out in a cotton maxi dress with gladiators and listenin' to music with friends and taking it easy and the next day I'm rockin' a sequined mini-dress with booties and dancing to Van Morrison. Then the next day I'm probably a crunchy granola type and wearing a bandana in my hair or making Millie wear one around her neck. (or both, I know, super lame). Then another day I'm jocked out in spandex with super-flattening sports bra and a pair of workout kicks. Then sometimes I'm just a sloppy blob in wife-beaters. Did someone just say I wear wife-beaters every day? Shut your mouth.

But seriously... have you ever wondered what you bring to other people's lives? If life were a picnic, what item would you be? If it was a garden, what flower? (I've written an entire blog on that by the way). What about, if life was a circus, what animal or act would you be? I get incredibly zoned in on an idea sometimes and think I'm a bonified philosophical genius, but then I realize how stoopid it sounds when I try to explain my philosophical ponders (apparently I'm such an incredibly deep thinker and wayyyy to smart for y'all, that's why I lost you about 5 minutes ago). Haha. Oh well, maybe some of you are groovin' with me. 

Q:: If life were a circus, what animal would I be? A:: The circus freak.

Well, I just wanted to tell my story about the Coinstar trip -and my 98 cents- and share the picture and story behind my funky little bouquets with you. Then somewhere along the way, I lost track of my purpose and became a philosopher who's bat shit crazy. My apologies.

peacelifeloveHere's the words of groovyness that John Lennon said when he was a dreamer and 'imagine'd a bunch of cool things. "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

baily

self-revelation

Today's been a good day. I took a break from running errands and doing lesson plans and just let myself sort of breathe. Ahhh, finally!

I woke up and walked Millie on an intended 1.5 mile walk. We made it halfway. I must have missed the phase where 9am felt like a sunny-but-cool Spring morning. Summer's here, needless to say. I almost died. Then I thought of how much of a badass I must have been when I was in high school and practiced cross-country at 3pm, on the deadly heat of Orlando's asphalt, and in the fiery furnace of August & September in Central Florida. Since I didn't see my dad standing there pushing me along on every turn like I did in a race, I very graciously veered Millie "off-course" and took the short-cut home. And still almost died.

Since I almost died, I figured I must've burned some calories so I got in the driver's seat of my car and Millie hopped in the passenger seat and we drove to Jack's. I was hell-bent and determined I was going to have me an order of biscuits 'n gravy. They were simply amazing. Millie says, "mine was too!" Except she had an order of hashbrowns.

I took my time getting my things together, but I eventually headed over to CrimsonPlace condominiums to meet some friends at the pool. I got to catch up with Kathleen, finally, which is a hard task because she's taking an interim class, a Master's student, a lifegaurd by day, and bartender by night. Getting a lunch in with her, which lasts under an hour usually, is as hard as the secondary education and history classes that consume her. So you know how excited I must be to have seen her today, and am seeing her again tonight! I've blogged about her before. She's equally as passionate about fulfilling her life goals as I am and she's got a style and grace that is all her own. If I am a Woodstock loving, vinyl record collecting, free-spirit, then she is denim and diamonds, driving for Dale and dancin' to Hank kind of girl that channels a true June Carter. When you get us together, give us a Light beer, and turn us loose to a country cover band, you're bound to see a show. Equally clumsy, too, so usually one of us is on the ground and the other is pointing and laughing.

I got to see Kayley at the pool, too, and I don't think I've ever found myself with my two closest friends, in the middle of the day, poolside in quite some time. It feel ahhh-mazing! Kayley had cooked dinner at her boyfriend and one of my best guy friend's apartment last night and had me over to eat. We had yummy chicken and scalloped potatoes and watched the Dancing With The Stars results show. I was sad to see Ochocinco go home, but I would have screamed bloody murder if Erin Andrews was sent home. It would have been that incredibly painful for me. Monday night when the episode showcased the celebrity's background and life, I was moved by Erin. Everyone knows that I idolize her because of her passion for her school (even though it is UF and all) and because of her success in my "other" dream career. (see my other blog here) But her ability to come out and do a show that is so daring and performance-oriented made me have NOTHING but utmost respect for her. After her showcased biography during Monday night's performance round, she came out and kicked some serious ass and made a statement for women everywhere that have been victimized by sexual harassment. All I can say is, bravo! And to Kayley's cooking, bravo! I'm looking forward to having a good time with good friends, and the term 'good friend' is an understatement for Kayley. Her goodness to me was so bountiful after the fire. She thought to bring me makeup, hair tools, toiletries, under garments, socks, razors, nail files, the little things that make a big difference when they aren't taken for granted. I hadn't even realized that I lost all the little things like nail clippers and tweezers, but she did. There aren't enough good things I can say about a friend like that. The kind of friend that walks in when everyone else walks out.

That's why I don't care that I haven't heard from KG, BB, WP, and many others that I thought were my "best friends" before I was struck with this personally huge disaster. It's funny, too, because as I talked to Kathleen and Kayley about how I believe in soulmates now, I told them that things happen so that we can see who and what are supposed to be in our lives... and not only that, but do you know what the one thing is that sets a regular learning experience apart from the truly life-changing? You find out the WHY to go along with the who and what. Maybe I was that far from God and He needed something to happen that challenged my mind and my heart, but also my soul and my life in general. I learn new reasons WHY everyday when I stop myself from complaining about my plastic dresser and my bare walls, and instead praise God for giving me clothes to even need a plastic dresser, and for giving me the plastic dresser because some people have nothing. I praise him for the walls that keep me sheltered, and pray for the people who do not know of such a thing. And you find people that admire you and you find an even deeper admiration for them because they stopped to notice the positive change in your life. These things, these are the why's.

Today Kayley said something as I was walking away from the pool and Kathleen agreed. It feels good to know that the Lord's work in my heart is showing on the outside. I refuse to hide it under a bushel. I heard her say this, "Baily's a changed person because of this. That fire was life-changing for her." 

I needed the change. I needed the Lord to work in mysterious ways on me. And he has. Bravo, God! Bravo!

Peace&Love

Baily

shoes/summer/sass

Oh sweet summertime is finally here. I was raised in The Sunshine State so the warm weather is my bff. And, before I lost my wardrobe my summer clothes were my favorite. My summer shoes were even better. Last weekend I did a little exam/fire retail therapy.  I have been good about my spending since the fire, and I continue to practice self-control when shopping, but I needed some summer goodness.  So, I went to DSW. Yep, Designer Shoe Warehouse.

It could have quite possibly been YEARS since I went into a DSW. Tuscaloosa doesn't have things like that and I never think to go when I'm in Birmingham. The last time I've been into one of their stores was with my mom when I was visiting Orlando a couple years ago. So when I say I was O V E R W H E L M E D.... it's a complete understatement. It didn't take me long to take it all in and giggle with excitement.

I sent a text message to Chace at work, ME: This is NOT good.

HIM: What's not good? You ok?

ME: SHOOEEESSSS!!!!

I didn't buy on impulse. I rarely buy something impulsively. I'm that girl that picks out something, has them hold "it", looks everywhere to find a better "it" or a less expensive "it", and then I finally go back to buy "it" or am too tired at that point and just say screw "it." I went up and down aisles trying to make my "browsing" loop before I went back through to try on the ones that caught my eye. I was about two aisles away from being done with this browser sesh when I saw them. Like love at first sight, I had found "the ones." What a tease.. I looked to the left and right of them and saw that they came in three other colors. Grey, black, mustard yellow.. ooo! ooo! I love mustard yellow. But "the ones" were red. Really pretty like my favorite shade of lipstick red. I hurdled those last two aisles, making a scene. I squealed when I saw that they had a size 6. They looked perf on my bony little feet. 

ME: Cha-ching!! 

HIM: Oh lord, what did you buy?

ME: SHOOEEESSSSSS!!!!!

Just take in the beauty of those Nine West red leather high heels.... they're a beauty huh?  

I can't wait to be my summer sassy and walk all over town in my white linen pants or my black cotton dress with these babies on! My toes will be painted perfectly red and my lip gloss poppin' (duh!). Bye Bye Uggs, hello lovelies!!

Peace&LOVE

bjj

What are your favorite summer shoes? c.o.m.m.e.n.t. below!