Sunday, August 30, 2009

12 days of my BIRTHDAY!!!

The first public picture of me at 30!!!


On the first day of my birthday I was lucky to get...

Twelve 20 Dollar Bills

Eleven restless nights

Ten good spent dollars

Nine heartfelt wishes

Eight days of depression

Seven lovely phonecalls

Six hours of shopping

Five pieces (or more) of cheesecake

Four slices of pizza

Three Ugly Pictures



Two steak dinners

And a birthday card from San Anonio, Texas

I know, I know the song was exaggerageted, but you get the point...I got some good things for my birthday. Two things that I didn't mention above were these two gifts from my wonderful Sis-In-Laws!!! Thanks so much to all of you who made me feel special today and other days throughout the month!!!

From Erica...


From Amber...




Special Shout OUT to my sister Shelly who gave me a FREE Hair Color for my present!!! Thanks Shelly, you help me out so much. Love you!!!

Also, my mom, who kept Allie for me to have two shopping days this month...thanks mom!!!

And thanks to you Jennifer for treating me to lunch at PF Changs on Friday.

And thanks Matt for the shopping money and a night out!!! Looks like you can officially call me your "Old Lady."

I'm 30

Well it's here!! I am 30!! Happy Birthday to me. Pictures to come of my weekend celebrations...

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

It's a party...



A PITY PARTY that is... Just kidding.
This week I am 29 and holding. I am going to hang on to it until like 6:30 a.m. Sunday when I think I officially turn the big 3-0.

It has occurred to me that this is the last week of my 20s. Wow how time flies!!! I have been a little on the depressed side for several days. I don't know that I can really pinpoint what is the problem. I don't really know if it is the big 3-0 or thinking about what I could have done with time passed. There has been a lot of grand adventures throughout the past 29 years and there is a lot to look forward to in your 20s. For most, you go to college, get that first self-defining job, get married, have kids...all sorts of exciting milestones...so...NOW WHAT??? Thankful, I am. I am thankful for everything!!! I just mean, what exciting milestones come next, now that we have done a lot of the BIG STUFF?
Maybe the excitement is looking forward to Allie accomplishing big things. Exciting yes...but it is almost like it's time to put your big outlandish dreams to bed and think..."I guess I am normal." I told Matt not too long ago that I don't think I am that interesting...Sad thing is I used to think I was the most interesting person you'd meet. (Ha! But I really thought I was cool, I guess.)

Anyway, thanks for joining the pity party today!!!
Don't get me wrong...I AM THANKFUL TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER BIRTHDAY!!! But you folks can't tell me it doesn't hurt, if even just a little, to turn older.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Happy Birthdays!!!

Several friends from church got together last night and celebrated Amber's 30th birthday. Her birthday is in July but better late than never, right? We had a great time!!!








And Katie Lee. This was several weeks ago but I was slacking. So, Happy Birthday Katie Lee.




We celebrated mt cousin Abby's birthday a couple of weeks ago. Her birthday is in Sept. but she has a baby sister on the way.


Singing on the Square

The Lovell's were front and center Friday night to watch the Dixie Bluegrass Boys do a little pickin' and grinnin' on the square. Lillian Glanton also sang with the band so that drew some family attention as well.
Anyway...Allie loved it. She may start --Buck Dancing--- before too long...


Nana and Allie


My mom, Nana, keeps Allie for me sometimes, sometimes several times a week. I really appreciate all her help and most everytime she comes she brings Allie something...usually food. If Nana comes at breakfast time she'll bring something from McDonald's or Hardee's. Allie knows this and when she gets here, she goes and gets on the couch (the spot where they eat) and waits for Nana to bring the grub. It's really precious.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Woman seeking willow tree


Do any of you have a twisted willow tree or know where one is? I want some of its branches. If you know of one let me know....

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Call me stupid!!

O.K. so I am really getting into this blogging thing, especially checking out decorating ideas and such from people that turn thrifty into fancy. But, for the longest time I thought the blogsite...Between Naps on the Porch was a cute little restaurant. I think I even Googled it thinking "Oh, this would be a nice little sandwhich shop to go to with the ladies." Well, no, as I recently discovered there is a lingo that goes along with some blogsites as in in "I stopped by Between Naps on the Porch today and this is what I found." So I am learning that these site hosts have parties, give tutorials, and so on and so on and they speak in phrases that lead the "igonorant," :) to think they are coming their house of something. Anyway, not knocking it...just took me a while to catch on. I really enjoy reading some of these Trash to Treasure tales. Give it a try sometime. Stop by Between Naps on the Porch, she has some good ideas. BTW, that's the title of her site not a restaurant.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Opinion Poll....


I don't know about you, but I am glad Michael Vick is getting to play football again. I forgive him and I believe he deserves a second chance. What about these people who do A LOT WORSE... and to people? I believe what he did was wrong, he has learned from his mistakes...Now leave him alone about it.

I stayed on my soapbox about this when it was happening and I am very glad he has been given another chance. You have your right to your opinion and I have mine. What do you all think about the ordeal and are you glad he is back in the NFL? Do you believe, as I do, the crime was blown way out of porportion? Interested to know what you think.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

It's a party!

Last night was my birthday dinner at mom and dad's. We had it early because my brother-in-law's birthday was last week and mine is in a couple of weeks...so we just combined them. We had steak, baked potatoes, corn, baked beans, BBQ bread and cheesecake. It was great!!!

Here a few pics from the party...

Just AL...


Me, MeMe and AL


My dad and AL



Me and AL

Thursday, August 13, 2009

First comes love...

Matt and Tashia sitting in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First comes love...
Then comes marriage...
Then come Tashia with a baby carriage.


And so goes the story with us. Hope you aren't getting bored with my 30 on the 30th celebration. Today, I am going to share with you the story of Us.


The Tale of The Country Boy and The Gymnist


Once upon a time, in 2001 to be exact, Tashia met a strikingly handsome man at Northside Church of Christ. It was early summer and Tashia was visiting her family while in college at The University of North Alabama.
One Sunday evening, she remembers it well, Matt was wearing a red Polo shirt and some very preppy white and brown shoes as he sat on the church pew in front of her. After realizing his name she thought to herself, "Wow, this is the guy my friend Amy had always wanted to hook me up with."
Surprised by her friends good taste Tashia anxiously awaited church to be over so she could introduce herself.
As soon as such was over--- she flipped over the pews like Mary Lou Retin (how Matt recalls the moment and the idea for the title), stuck out her hand and said. "Hi, I'm Tashia Wales."
Tashia always believed in going after want you want and she had her sites set that day. They briefly talked that night but nothing really happened. From then on, Tashia made more frequent visits to see her "family" at Northside. She would hang around after church, chatting up the old folks, hoping to catch a moment with Mr. Matt. After a few brief conversations, Matt finally asked her out. He asked for her number but he didn't have anything to right it on. Confidently he said..."I'll remember it."
Their first date was officially July 3, 2001. They dined at Ruby Tuesday's that warm summer night. And, this is the way life went for the two young lovebirds. A date here, a date there, not imagining what life would bring them down the road.
After dating this way for about a year and a half, a young, nervous Matt came to pick Tashia up for a Valentine's date on a cold February night. He acted a little odd that night, Tashia recalled, when out of no where he asked her to read his Valentine's card. In it was a very sweet and sincere proposal. Tashia, knowing how silly Matt could be at times replied "Are you serious?" And indeed he was.
They recently celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary and welcomed the birth of a baby girl in 2008. Who would have thunk it? you ask...

What a catch? I sure think so!!! XOXO




Hope you enjoyed the story of how Matt and I met. I had seen Matt from a distance when I was just a young girl, 16 I think. Then we were just kids. He had worked on my friend Amy's house. Not really realizing who he was in later years, Amy mentioned time and time again of fixing us up. I guess she thought we had similiar personalities. It's neat how we did meet, on our own, and ended up married. I guess my friend knew what she was talking about.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Obama Chia Pet...

Who wants one of these??? I'm just sayin'...


Thursday, August 6, 2009

You're hired!!!

Let's continue the celebration. Today, I want to share with you the many occupations I have held throughout the years. I didn't really have a job until I graduated high school, but I sure made up for lost time.
Since I was 15, my career goal was to be a broadcast journalist. And, as I approach the big 3-0, I am happy to say I accomplished that dream. Although I didn't quite make it to "Katie Couric Status," as I had hoped, I did make it big for a small town country girl...I am happy with that.

Here goes...Some jobs are definitely better than others.

1. My first job was at the local Winn-Dixie. There I won the award for friendliest cashier and met a guy by the name of Casey Jones, you know, like the song.

2. Let me back up for a moment. I did work a little before graduating high school. My aunt and uncle owned a video store in Ardmore. They would pay me like $20 to work with a lady that didn't like to be alone at night. I was probably 14 or 15. Interesting though, I did meet Vern Gosdin. Yep, you heard me. The big Vern. Didn't know who he was until he left though. He asked me something about Sun-Drop. Don't be jealous.

3. Cowart Elementary School was the next stop. I don't remember liking that job too well.

4. Then it was on to Bennett's. It was hard not to spend my whopping check on their merchandise with my big 10-percent discount.

5. Upward Bound, a program at the big HOUN Dog, was my next stop. I was a camp counselor and lived on campus for like six weeks. Pretty cool. There I met Lucas Black's girlfriend. Granted they were like 13 at the time but still. You know Lucas Black...the little boy from Sling Blade. UMM HUMM, I reckon I remember that...

6. This also coincided with my first internship. Yep a job for free. I interned for the summer at WAFF 48 news. If I remember correctly this is the summer Liz Hurley announced she had breast cancer.

6. Then off to UNA where I worked multiple places. For starters, I worked for the Sports Information Department for 3 years. It was a media related job but I did a whole bunch of sports stuff and IF YOU KNOW ME, I know very little about that. I kept stats at basketball games, made media packets at football games, wrote press releases, filing and so on and so on. Fun job!

7. During that time I also worked at Parisian's in the Florence mall. What department might you ask??? Well, menswear of course.

8. I picked up these two kids from Mars Hill and took them home and stuff. Weird job but o.k. Wonder what those kids look like now.

9. I worked for JoAnn Reeves during accounting season making copies of tax info. BORING.

10. Worked as a hostess at Emerald Coast Cafe. Classy Joint for a Classy Gal. It was the type of place where I would lay your napkin in your lap.

11. Another internship. This time in radio at Star 94. It was cool. I got to go on a bus all the way to Nashville to see Def Leopard in concert. Pour Some Suga on me.

12. SOAR COUNSELOR. This is a group of students picked to live on campus for the summer and be the guides and register students during summer orientation a UNA. This was a blast.

13. Internship No. 3. NewsChannel 19. I got to go to the Iron Bowl for this one and I was so excited. Bummer though, I ended up with food poisoning or something and stayed on the bus during the game. I felt like such a BIG DOG though. I also met Dave Ramsey during this internship.

14. Whitt's BBQ. This is a little late in the post but I worked here on and off several times during my college years and after. My dad works there and it was always a job to fall back on when I needed it.

15. WKAG TV 43. My first "real job" out of college. My pay...a whopping $14,000 a year. WOW. At the time, it was more than I ever made so I was happy. This was a news reporter position in Hopkinsville, Ky. I was so excited but a little scared. I was sort of dating Matt at the time and hated to leave him behind. We both made out OK. Don't you think? I lived in an apartment attached to the back of a house. I was so scared staying there by myself but it was nice too. During this job I got to travel a little including a trip to New York to cover something related to 9-11.

16. Insert here....I forget the job as a sales woman in Manitowoc, WI. In college I got pulled into the hype of this job. A group called "I can't even remember what," draft college students to give up their summer moved to another part of the country and spend like 13 hours a day selling some books that I can't even imagine anybody wants anyway. But little ole' me, who was always up for an adventure, packed my bags drove all the way to Wisconsin with no where to live and had at it. Me and two other girls found a single woman and her cats to live with and pay like $20 a week in rent. Oh yeah, I am scared of cats so I had to barricade my door each night and share a bed with this girl from Memphis. It was May when we started the job and I had to go to Goodwill and buy a coat. As a part of our routine with this job we were supposed to take cold showers every morning. Did I mention I quit this job in less than six weeks.

17. During a brief job a Whitt's again (after deciding to quit my job in KY because I was in love with Matt) I was offered two reporting jobs in Huntsville. One at WAFF as their Shoals reporter and one in Huntsville at WHNT as the weekend reporter/ camera woman. See all those internships paid off. I was so excited!!!

18. WHNT NewsChannel 19. I was so excited to take on this position as reporter/photographer. I would work very long days as a one man band. That means I shot and edited my video, drove the live truck, set up my camera and got in front of it all on my own to report the news. This started off as 2 days reporting and 2 days as a photographer. It turned into 5 days reporting with three of them overnight. A LOT OF WORK!!! Stormy weather was one of the worst parts of the job. They actually made you go the direction of the tornado!!!

19. After deciding overnight reporting was not for me I worked at Retina Specialist in Huntsville. Not much to say. Not fun.

20. Then back into this biz. I got a gig at WZYP/WVNN. This was a news anchor position. I covered a visit from Pres. Bush in Birmingham during this job, went to Montgomery and reported on the trial for Roy Moore ( Ten Commandments) and went to the scent of the crime while the Farron Barksdale ordeal was going on.

21. Wilmer & Lee P.A. I worked for a short while as a runner here. Not much to say.

22. Then back into the biz as a news reporter for the News Courier.

23. Worked for like two months for Charles Page at the Courthouse.

24. Athens State University in the admissions office. That was the last job I had before Allie was born. I took a year long maternity leave and never went back.

25. Now, I clean a few houses and do a little bit of odds and ends to make me some of that sweet Ole' spending money us girls' gotta have...

Quite a resume huh? Maybe one day when I am on the job hunt again someone will want to hire me.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Did you know?

Here are 29 interesting facts about me. Some of you know these things and some of you don't. Anyway hope you enjoy these fun facts during the continuation of my 30 on the 30th celebration.


1. I grew up in an area in Limestone County sometimes referred to as "Wales Town."

OUR FIRST FAMILY PHOTO...

Just kidding... I am very thankful for my family and background. Sure we are country but who of y'all reading this isn't?

2. I am afraid of dogs, cats, really any type of animal and I have a hard time understanding the relationships people have with their animals.


3. I have always been afraid of the water. I have never jumped off of the diving board without a flotation device.


4. Various nicknames I have had throughout the years include..."Hollywood," "Sugar," Cashmere Bouquet," "Tash," "Sweet Pea," and "Muffin."



5. My natural hair color is dark brown although I am not exactly sure what that would look like now. I have been coloring my hair since I was 17.


6. My mother witnessed my first "real kiss" while I was slow-dancing at my ninth grade year dance.


7. Although I was president of the SADD club in high school, my prom date couldn't pick me up for the prom because he had a DUI.


The above is not him...


8. I didn't really have a boyfriend until I was 19. Lots of dates though.


9. I have been in multiple beauty walks throughout the years. Never won. Closest I got was 1st runner-up.



10. I was Homecoming Queen at Elkmont High School.


11. I was the Drum Majorette for one year and played the clarinet since I was in fifth grade.


12. I used to be in a jazz band.


13. I have always loved big hair.


14. My career goal was to make it big time as a newsreporter/ anchor. More on that in a later post.


15. I have lived in Manitowoc, WI working as a door-to-door salesperson. Hated it.


16. I lived in Hopkinsville, Ky working as a news reporter.


17. I am a Phi Mu, Theta Alpha Chapter. I pledged in 1998 at UNA.


18. I didn't own a brand new automobile until I was 27.


19. My first car caught on fire in my front yard when I was 16.


20. As a child, I was mean and would have to stand in the hall or in the corner. Some might say I still have those tendencies.


21. I have self-diagnosed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I have worried and fretted over things as long as I can remember.


22. I have been sky-diving...


23. I could watch re-runs of 90210 over and over again.


24. I can not dance. And, I guess that's a good thing since it's wrong anyway.
25. I love to Karaoke but I am one of the worst singers ever.


26. I have moved about 15 times since I was 17 and had about 20 jobs.
27. I love Tashia Time. Don't get much of that these days.


28. I could eat a whole gallon of ice cream in a day. Birthday Cake is my favorite and I don't like to share. I like to eat it when no one else is around.


29. I have stray hairs that grow out of my face. So, if you see one...tell me and I will pluck it.

30 on 30th





I am not going to lie. I love for a big deal to be made over my birthday. So, this year, in celebration of my 30th I am going to make a big deal out of it on my own.
Randomly throughout the month I am going to post different things about the past 29 years that I feel are significant and want to share with you so you can get to know me a little better and help me celebrate the blessed years that have passed.

First of all I want to make mention of a few very special ladies in my life. Without these girls, I don't believe that I would be entirely who I am today. They have helped me grow, been there through good times and bad and complimented my personality. Here goes...

1. Sara Gibson Aday. Sara you are and will always be my Best Friend. Even though we don't talk as much anymore and I haven't seen you in like six years, you are the only girl who has been able to carry the title. You are the Best Friend I will tell Allie all about when she meets that special girl friend in her life. Since I was four years old you have held a special place in my heart and please know that you always will.
2. Leigh Pettus Davis. As different as we are, we have always complimented each other well. I have been friends with Leigh since we were 15 and we sure have had a lot of wild rides together. From sneaking out of her parents' house on the scooter to roll yards, to high school fun and then onto college experiences, Leigh has been the best of pals and I am thankful to still have a good relationship with her today.
3. Amy Springer. If it weren't for her mom making her call me when I was in 7th grade sick with shingles, who knows if we would have ever been friends. I am glad she called and I know that any time we talk, it is like picking up where we left off. She is my mischievous friend and boy have we gotten into some trouble together. Things I will likely never tell Allie about. Here's to you Amy and all the fun times we had. Amy even wrote me a song when I was in college I sure wish I still had it.
4. Amy Brooks Chandler. Amy is always so much fun to be around. She's so caring and so concerned. The thing that I laugh at when I talk about Amy is how she wants you to understand every detail of story she tries to tell. She just won't let it go until you agree that you know what she is talking about.
5. Leslie Burch Sawyer. The best room dog I ever had in college. We lived together for 2-21/2 years. We are like night/ day but we had a special bond. From mildewed clothes in the washer, to Equal packets and coffee grounds all over the counter to a thermostat setting that could never be agreed on...Thanks Leslie for all the love and comfort...especially through the big "L" haircut that I suffered through.

Anyway, these girls always will mean a lot to me and I am so thankful to have shared some very good times with them. So as I bid farewell to my 20s please give a round of applause to the wonderful ladies with whom I have shared so much of it with.
I have many more friends and to all of you, I am thankful for as well.

More to come...

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Phi Mu Sisters



Amanda, Sonya and I went to lunch at Applebee's in Decatur today. It has been entirely too long since I have seen these girls and it was so much fun. Thanks for getting us together Sonya.