back where i come from...

I'm really on the fence on whether or not I include Kentucky in "The South". They don't fix grits correctly, they don't have boiled peanuts, they don't have (good) peaches, when you order tea at restaurants, they actually ASK if you want it sweet or un-sweet (if you're lucky enough to have a choice). And let me clear one thing up, Texas is NOT part of The South! From Southern Living to Paula Deen, from the glorious Carolina shore to cotton and tobacco fields, here's a little southern definition via a picture frame I have:

1- tea is sweet & accents are sweeter

2- summer starts in april (NOT true about KY- the high in may was in the 50s, back home, i was in lake in april)

3- mac n cheese is a vegetable

4- front porches are wide and words are long

5- pecan pie is a staple

6- y'all is the only proper noun

7- chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy (KFC was started here, +1 pt for KY)

8- everything is darlin'

9- someone's heart is always being blessed

On that note, here are a few pictures of good ole southern food from where i come from! (right out of my parents' garden)

THE best pimento cheese

Tomatoes, peppers and peaches

boiled peanuts, of course!

What do you consider "The South"?

vacay...

my faithful blog followers have reminded me that i have been slacking on my posts...im on a short vacay now, but i promise once i get back i will update. til then...

somewhere in the smoky mountain range...

BFFs

Remember those yin-yang charms? and the hearts with BFF on them? hmmm....what other cheesy things did we have? Oh the joys of Claire's and Afterthoughts (not to mention the mini-backpacks!)...90s kids had it all...and we were NOT obese (i was a chunkster, but i still played outside!). My best friend since 2nd grade called me today. She is one of those people that we could be worlds apart for years then pick back up like we're in middle school. I don't have the awesome pictures of us in our matching plaid YMCA hats and crew-neck sweatshirts from horse camp, but I do have a few from high school and college. here goes nothing, and enjoy!

Ashley's wedding circa 2008

Alana, Ashley, Me

Kristy, Me, Ashley, Jessica

CHS graduation, 2003

Sugar Mountain, college

Junior Prom, 2002

Ashley and I with Jennifer Capriati

Family Circle Cup

i NEED new running shoes, hiking boots, and Toms...not to mention new sunglasses, dresses, etc....but reality set in, common sense took over and i ended up with these snazzy kicks. sigh.

On a kick...

Ironically, while referring the top 18s in the nation at UK this weekend, they feed us absolute crap. Bagels, cream cheese, chips, jimmy john's, DC, fazolis (not sure what my breadstick record is...im sure it's close to about 10). So July 4th was my new revolution, I don't need a cliche new year's to begin anew; what better than our nation's celebration of independence? On that note, I've started up-regulating my intake of fruits and veggies. I creep on Brooke's blog a lot. The salsa chicken is rockin'! For breakfast, I have been taking a burrito (100% whole wheat), spreading peanut butter on it, then putting blueberries and sliced strawberries on it = AMAZING. A recommendation from my mom via her trainer is Dark Chocolate Almond Milk. I know, I know, it sounds gross...but trust me, it's worth a shot! It's perfect if you need to satisfy that sweet tooth that comes with the XX chromosomes. Lastly, I have been doing these killer workouts. If you have access to kettle bells, I highly recommend these. You will be sore for days (I'm still sore from Monday!), but it's a wonderful feeling! Tonight, I'm having two of my best friends over for a little SYTYCD and Polenta Lasagna. This is my first time making this, so it will be a shot in the dark (worse case, I'll just poor some ranch on it and call it a wash!). Happy hump day!

woopsie daisy!

yes. it's true. it's almost been 1 year since i've blogged. and what a year it has been. i mean, come on people, it's been the busiest year of my life {insert sarcasm here}. . i honestly believe i was busier as a five year old than now. life-o-Sam circa 1990: kindergarden with mrs. weed (which is hilarious now), ballet and/or gymnastics, work on the tree house, play date with lamb chop and Barbee dolls, hot dog and Cheetos for dinner, make Grant cry, sleep. Fast forward 20 years (i almost barfed when i typed '20'). wake up at some un-Godly hour to personal train ONE person, go home, eat, go back to train people, workout myself, put band-aids on my newly blistered toes, eat, watch ellen/nap, back to the gym, back home, eat, and watch trashy reality tv. oh, and on the weekends, if i'm really lucky, i get to referee tennis matches or spend time with my friends and/or boyfriend. this is truly a unanimous vote (in my book) as to which aged 'Samantha' is 'more likely to succeed'. i know it's just a matter of time until i do get my first 'big girl job,' i mean, i've only waited a couple *{caugh 20 caugh}* years and busted my booty in school. i've become somewhat numb to rejection letters; thanks economy and lack of experience. but as they say, 'the squeaky tire gets the oil'...so basically i will continue to bug people until they let me begin my career...on a positive note, it's st. patty's day weekend! c'est la vie! (oh wait, that's french, whatever...)

has it really been a month? oops.

spring has sprung and boy do i have spring fever. i'm itching to get out of the bluegrass, but 4 exams, 2 papers, and oral comps stand in my way of chucktown with the ladies. this weather really just makes me want to be by the pool drinking a beer, or just simply be outside--tennis, running, sand volleyball, keeneland, ky derby, weddings (not mine!), concerts and many adventures are in my near future and i can NOT wait! that's really all i can think about these days and all i really have time for (school is SO overrated--36 days left, but who's counting?). happy liz?