I just got my very first...

Lawn mower. Self-propelled, electric start, push mower. My neighbors are also very excited about this purchase, not just because they won't have to deal with my overgrown, unkept yard, but because of the comic relief I will provide. You see--I have NEVER mowed a lawn before, am not very...uh...well, coordinated, or good with heavy equippment... Wish me luck.

Until next time...blog on -A&E

To Fold or Ball...That is the QUESTION?

Sitting on the beach with a few good friends always leads to very interesting, enlightening, bizarre or just entertaining conversation. This happen recently on SI with Carissa, JB and Courtney.

And so the question was asked, "Are you a folder or a baller?"....referring to Toliet Paper use of course. And I honestly had to think. I didn't know. I could visualize myself doing both....TMI. Then a few days later I wake up and go to the bathroom, and in my half dazed state, I think to myself, so I'm a folder...GOOD! See I wanted to be a folder, it's not as wasteful and I am seriously trying to be more conscious of ways (big and small....mostly small) that I can do my part. Living with Ashley has actually really helped me in this department. Her friend, Vanessa, is a "sweet soul"....you know the kind of people that can do without the worldly conveniences and non-necessities. And thus Vanessa inspired Ashley and Ashley inspires me. AND we hope this inspires you...even if it is just a SMALL STEP, like becoming a folder. :)

"GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK!"

Until next time.....Blog On! A&E

Travel...what a beautiful thing!

Happy Memorial Day!

Thank you to all those who have or currently serve our country!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Sex and the City had an episode where they discussed secret single behavior. I guess after thinking about it, I do have a ritual that I turn to when I find myself home alone on a random Saturday night. My ideal night in alone involves watching Young and the Restless re-runs- thanks Brooks--while having a glass of wine, reading people.com, and wearing pjs. Shallow? Perhaps. But, there is no better way to relax. Of course, snuggling with Herbie-love completes my evening.

Also, I have not yet discovered Erica's secret single behavior, but I'll keep you posted.

Feel free to share your secret single behavior with us. Thanks for reading...

Until next time, Blog on- A&E

Cool Things about Columbia

Columbia always gets a bad rap... so below are some really great things about Cola:

1.) DiPrato's- Really good Pimento Cheese and Brunch (http://www.dipratos.com/)

2.) The River Walk (http://www.cityofcayce-sc.gov/riverwalk_park1.aspx)

3.) The Nickelodeon Theatre (http://www.nickelodeon.org/) AND Trustus (http://www.trustus.org/)

4.) Art Museum is FREE on weekends (http://www.columbiamuseum.org/)

5.) Governor's Mansion (new renovated grounds)

6.) St. Patty's Day festivities at 5 Point

7.) McFly...the BEST 80's Band ever! (http://www.themightymcfly.com/calendar_date.html)

8.) Gamecock Football, need I say more

9.) The Vineyard- where everyone knows your name (or at least Ashley's name)

10.) The One Eared Cow (http://www.oneearedcow.com/)

11.) Vista Lights for the Holidays

12.) Live After 5 at 5 Points (http://www.fivepointscolumbia.com/after5/)

13.) Artista Vista (http://artistavista.com/)

14.)Whit-Ash (http://www.whitash.com/)

15.) Jake's---- great college pub that you never get too old to go to

16.) Lake Murray

17.) Congaree National Park (http://www.nps.gov/cong)

18.) Rhythm and Blooms at the ZOO! (http://www.riverbanks.org/)

19.) Main Street Marketplace AND All-Locals Farmer's Market

20.) All the rivers for kayaking & canoe trips (http://www.adventurecarolina.com/Home.html)

21.) The United House of Pray not only feeds your soul but your belly too. The BEST soul food in town! (http://unitedhouseofprayerforallpeople.com/)

22.) A cheap Spa Day at the SC Massage & Esthetics Institute (http://www.scmassage.com/spa-services-student.html)

23.) Finlay Park and Outdoor Movies!

24.) Rhythm on the River (http://www.rhythmontheriversc.com/)

25.) Ashley and Erica ( I mean we live here...what else could one community ask for) :)

Until next time..... Blog On- A&E

Soul Mates

So, I have always liked the idea of or term "soul mate"....not sure why, just always have. Although I have used the word before, I have never quite read or thought of the appropriate definition of what I thought a "soul-mate" was in my mind. UNTIL.....just recently. I am reading the book Eat, Pray, Love where a guy named Richard from Texas put it best:

(Background- the main character, Liz, is talking about her feeling for her Ex with Richard)

LIZ: "I think the main reason it's so hard for me to get over this guy is because I seriously believed he was my soul mate."

DAVID: "He probably was. Your problem is you don't understand what that word means. People think a real soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with your soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. And thank God for it."

Beautifully put.

Until next time.....Blog On- A&E

Columbia's own McDreamy

Herbie is an old dog. As an old dog, he has to take a few visits to the vet a year. I went through three vets in Columbia before I found one I really liked. He takes time to explain his diagnosis and to talk about my concerns. Also, he is very good with Herbie. And, he doesn't look half bad. Alright, he looks great---in ranks with McDreamy and McSteamy.

My boyfriend occasionally goes to the vet with me. And, has teased me for flirting with the vet in front of him. (I am a very loyal girl, but flirting can be fun!) Last week I had to take Herbie to the vet. I asked my bf if he would come with me. He told me that he would stay at home, and reminded me that I would flirt with the vet whether or not he were there (probably true).

So, I take Herbie to the vet. And, hopefully we have a few new solutions to help Herbie's hip problems. I would also like to think that the vet and I exchanged some witty banter.

Then, the vet tech leaves the room, and the vet says to me-"Now, I would like to talk to you about something a little awkward." My pulse begins racing, I am CONVINCED that hot vet is going to ask me on a date. Sure I flirt with him, but I have a wonderful bf! Still, my ego was feeling pretty darn good. I am thinking of ways to let him down gently, after all- I can't lose the one vet in Cola who I trust the precious Herbster with!

Until...the vet tells me that he is recently engaged and thinks I "look like the type of person who would want to buy his fiance's house."

Self-esteem-- plummeted.

Until next time...blog on-A&E

HairStyles

One of the ladies at the Columbia Branch emailed me yesterday morning since I was on the road (as usual). She said, and I quote, Erica, I have a most important question to ask you. Maybe the most important thing you will be asked all day..... What was the web-site you told me about months ago where you can test hairstyles? LOVE it!
So for everyone who has that Spring itch for a "change" check out the website if you have not already done so at some point. www.instyle.com/instyle/hairstyle
Ashley and I spent an entire evening playing with this tool. See our beautiful pictures above. What do ya think? Blonde/Short????

Until next time, Blog On- A&E

My Weird Friends

OK, I know "weird" is probably not the best adjective to describe your friends, but it is better than what first popped into my head which was "special"....I would have gotten crap for that one too. (Side Note- Completely Random thought- I always feel bad about saying the word CRAP, as by older brother received ISS for saying "crap" in middle school...funny, huh?)

Back to my "weird" friends. I love my friends and I love them most because they are all weird. I don't hang around just ordinary/normal people, no, not my friends. I have the kind of people in my life that stretch you...b/c they stretch themselves. There is no good way to describe what I am trying to say without examples.

Carissa- is the most free-spirited person I know. If ever there was a person who truly embraced who they were and what they wanted....C would be your girl. She is a wife, mother (still strange to say), Yoga instructor, writer, professional fundraiser and everything she wants to be!

Nina-is the friend who has probably stretched me the most. She has opened my eyes to ideas that I have never even thought about before. She and her husband have one of the purest forms of loves ever. They just make me smile when I am around them. Nina constantly reminds you to simplify life and enjoy what the day has to offer..just where you are, just as you are. Less is more for Nina.

JoBeth (aka JB)-is so thoughtful and fun-loving. One day she is out on the town being a "wild one", the next she is running a major charity event with key members of the community, and the next she is jumping on a plane to go somewhere...anywhere!

Tyler- WOW! Enough said. No, Tyler is unlike anyone I have ever met or ever will meet. I would take that bet. Tyler lives by his own rules, at his own pace and with his own agenda. There is no such thing as the norm with Tyler and I love that about him. He has a big heart and each day is a mystery for him and anyone around him.

Brett- is my childhood friend that lives in California as a dairy farmer. He loves to work hard and just be out in God's green earth. Brett is a lover of the Lord, people, and (YES) cows too!

Maria-is my other half. She is both a mirror and my yang. Although we are so much alike...we are so different....But we get each other, better than ourselves usually. Nothing can replace a life-long best friend!

The list could go on and on. So, I say thank you to all my friends for being "weird"....without you life would be boring and I would see the world with squinted eyes.

Until Next Time......Blog On- A&E

Church, the Right Fit

I never knew how hard it was to find a church where you just "fit". Growing up I went where I was told and it was all I knew. Of course you would visit other churches occasionally for certain reasons, but you always felt like you fit at your home church b/c it was your norm. Then I went off to college and the 2nd church I ever checked out (the 1st being the church that backed up to my dorm) ended up being a church that really "fit" me. Not because it was similar to my old church, no, quite the opposite really. I grew up Baptist, this one was Non-Denominational. I grew up singing hymns from a book, this one had a band on stage and the lyrics on big screens (yes, I said a stage and screens). I grew up in a fairly normal size church, where you knew most everybody. This new church was HUGE. It was so big they even had other locations in the same city and within no time had locations in other cities.

My newly found church was so very different than anything I knew. All the "style" changes took me back at first and took awhile to get use to. Yet still I knew it was special from the first time I stepped into its doors. For the next 7 1/2 years I would have a new "home" church. A church that "fit" me. And not because it was all I knew this time....but because it was who I was and I could grow there.

I recently made the move to Cola town and started looking for a new home church here. Now, admittedly I have not been as diligent about this search as I should, but I can't seem to find a church here that "fits" me. And thus for the 1st time I appreciated my old home church in a way that I never had before. It really is hard to find the "right fit" in a church. At first I felt guilty about my negative feelings for these new churches I visited. You know like you probably shouldn't be so judgemental about a church of all things. Then I resolved that it is OK to be this picky. I mean I am picky with everything else (men, shoes, coffee, shampoo even). I should definitely be picky with my church. So I am in search for the "perfect fit" again and trust that God will lead me to it. Kind of like Cinderella being led to her own Prince Charming. Weird connection I know but it does truly FIT if you think about it.

http://www.seacoast.org/ My home church until then.

Until Next Time...Blog On!

Our Entry into the World of Blog

Hey guys! We are excited about our entry into the blog world! Sadly (or thankfully?) our lives are pretty boring, so below is a list of the Top 10 things going on in Cola-town.

1. Grey's has returned and made our Thursday night complete!

2. Ashley saw a movie crew filming Jake Gyllenhaal's movie on her way to the gym--sadly, no Jake sighting!

3. Erica had a nice nap after her Change Management class today.

4. Our herbs are growing out of control, especially the cilantro if any one wants to share!

5. The dogwalker gave some friendly tips to help Herbie-love's arthritis and suggested Erica start a second career as a personal chef. We love Miller our dog-walker!

6. Drew-bug is graduating next week! (which means Ashley will be dating a professional!)

7. Erica has tan lines from two consecutive weekend trips to Charleston.

8. NASCAR Coke 600 in two weeks!

9. Sex and the City cast was on Oprah today and the movie comes out on the 30th- we are having a pre-release party- details TBP(osted).

10. Ashley has made some recent home decor purchases that will enhance upcoming home improvement projects (new faucets, lighting, some furniture, and pics!).

And yes, we weren't kidding when we said not much is going on in Columbia.

Until next time..Blog On- A&E