Happy Birthday, Grandma Pinkie!

I don't mean to make everyone sad (I promise this isn't how the post will end) but I couldn't type "Happy Birthday, Grandma Pinkie" without tears streaming down my face.  That said, today would have been my paternal grandmother's 96th birthday.  Spry, brilliant and quick-witted until she made her transition nearly two years ago, I can't help but honor her legacy today.

As y'all have likely figured out, I come from a lineage of strong women. Good stock. You've "met" Mama TBS...she rolls tough and warrior-like.  Her mother, Grandma Sarah, was the same.  My aunts..Peggy (Daddy TBS' older sister), Angie & Karen (Mama TBS' younger sisters), Mattie Ruth (the wonderful quilter) and Annie (who we affectionately call "Nonnie"...she's the sister of Grandma Sarah); each one of them is a goddess!  Mr TBS often teases about our character and our will AND, since most of us are over 5'9", he rarely misses an opportunity to tease about our being Amazon women (nothing wrong with that, in my opinion!).

Grandma Pinkie (and, yes, that was her real name) was some kind of special.  She was God-fearing and never met a stranger.  She preached the importance of treating everyone the same and how we wanted to be treated.  People are often amazed that I do not see color and mean it to my core.  While I'm not naive, I truly believe that we are all equal because that's what my parents and grandparents taught us.  Grandma Pinkie was likely the champion of the notion.

Though she was a domestic for several years, she also had a penchant for "peddling".  In my small hometown of Covington, GA, she was known as "The Flavor Lady".  She sold extracts  for cooking such as vanilla and lemon extracts.  Boy, folks loved to see her coming and she loved to talk.

I think of her so much today because I am sure that I inherited my entrepreneurial spirit from her.  She always encouraged us to do our best in school and beyond.  Whenever we'd update her with the highlights from our lives, she was always so proud.  I miss and think of her all the time.

As I've made this transition as the Chief Lifestyle Officer and have become a solopreneur, I owe it to her and the other women in my immediate family who have encouraged and supported me.

Since I'll be self-publishing Instantly!: How Quickly I Realized I Hate My Job, I'd like to share that I've created an imprint where, hopefully, I can help women tell their stories to the world.  I want to do what my Grandma Pinkie would have done if she'd had access to all of the resources that rest at my fingertips.

It is in her honor that I've created "Miss Pinkie's Press, LLC", a subsidiary of The Broke Socialite Media. It's another thing I'm just really excited about and gives me chills.  She'd want me to do it. I feel her nudging me along.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Pinkie!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Happy Mother's Day, Mama TBS!

Mama TBS and I: Many pounds and much hair ago.

We need a new picture, sure enough! LOL!

For many, many years, I have been Mama TBS's look-a-like.  Before the term "Mini-Me" was coined, I always heard people say that I looked just like Mama TBS when she was my particular age.  It's only been in the past 5-7 years that I've really been able to appreciate that compliment and take it to heart.  Mother's Day is every day in our relationship but this past year has been a trying one from a health perspective.

Approximately one year ago, breast cancer came knocking on Mama TBS's door...again.  After beating it in 2002 and thinking that she was beyond harm's way, another dreadful lump materialized in May 2009. After all of the medical tests were said and done, we never doubted that Mama would be fine. We did what our family does best...pray and plan.

Last summer was rough. After a trip to the beach, we returned to Mama TBS having to face indefinite cycles of chemotherapy (which she avoided the first go 'round).  She was sick but fought through like a trooper with the help of her faith, family and friends.  It really took a toll on her body but now she's getting around a lot better, driving herself and...well...fussing again (which means that she's REALLY getting better)!

Last Tuesday, it was declared that Mama is in clinical remission. The cancer in her left breast, spine and liver are no more. Hallelujah!  We can not wait to celebrate the healing and our relationship on Sunday.

On Saturday morning I will wog (a combination of walking and jogging...and mostly walking for me) my first 5k in her honor at the Susan B Komen Race For A Cure here in Atlanta tomorrow morning. Do keep those who are affected by this deadly disease and the survivors like Mama TBS in your thoughts! If you'd like to donate to the cause, you are welcomed to do so!

Happy Mother's Day to those who parent with endless love!

Have a great weekend!

My Favorite Little Person Ever!

There is another man in my life (yes, Mr TBS knows all about him).

I haven't talked much about him and I don't know why because he's so important to me.

Meet my nephew, Cameron. He is the son of my younger sister and he's five years old. I got a call from Mama TBS yesterday telling me about a note that Sister TBS was given when she went to pick him up from school yesterday.  As it turns out, Cameron is concerned with the progress (or not) that a classmate is making with his letters and numbers.

Cameron's teacher intercepted a note that he had written and was passing along to said classmate for delivery to the classmates parents. Sister TBS says that the teacher nearly wet her pants.  Here is a copy of the letter:

 

Translation: "Hooever (Whoever...LOL!) picks up Jalin, you are to help him with 

his numbers and his letters."

This nearly killed me. Hilarious.  Meet Cameron and have a great weekend!

Tears: Gareth's Senior Prom

I admit it.

I'm in denial.

In a few months, our son, Gareth will be headed off to college (SMU to be precise...Go Mustangs!).

It's hard to believe that a mere 10 years ago, I married his dad and he became an integral part of my everyday life.  Be not mistaken, he is your typical teenaged boy...listens to his music too loud, leaves a trail of socks between his bedroom and his bathroom and got caught cutting class (he went to Taco Bell...alone...Tip:If you're going to skip, make it good, Son. Not over a burrito. Alone.) a couple of weeks ago.

As we prepare Gareth for the next phase in his life, we are grappling with the reality of an empty nest.  Before we know it, graduation will be here (I'm addressing the announcements this week) and I'll need Prozac to hold it all together.

I thought y'all might enjoy seeing some of the photos from last weekend's prom (and when did they become so expensive? Geez!). Nearly 100 kids. 2 charter buses. Bones. The Sundial. The Prom. A Gajillion Dollars. Priceless.

P.S. No TBS pictures. I was looking a hot mess. Running around behind the scenes and helping the hostess for the after-prom parent dinner. Yikes.

Gareth and Rachel, his date

Gareth and Mr TBS

Gareth and his friend, Will. They were Senior Co-Captains for wrestling

Gareth and his BFF, Johnathan

Da Bus - Bye, Y'all! Time for Adult Beverages!

Follow Up To TBS TV: Gareth's Winter Dance Ensemble

As it turned out, Gareth's haircut ran longer than we thought as he prepared for Sunday's dance.  Unfortunately, we were unable to get any video footage before we had to whisk off to the picture party and then the kids to their dinner reservation.  I am happy to share a picture of Gareth and his friend, Libby, before they left the pre-dance festivities.

Gareth is wearing his $7.50 Emanuel Ungaro suit navy pinstripe suit and a $4.00 blue pinpoint Brooks Brothers shirt from the Salvation Army Store and a $45 Sid Mashburn silk bowtie.  He was excited about how well his ensemble pulled together. I also spent $15 on hemming the suit's pants.  At the end of the day, I spent about $72.  That works for me.

Had I paid retail, I'd have spent at least $150 for a suit (did you notice that it was originally $500?!) and $40 for a shirt.

The pep in Gareth's step? Priceless. Sorry, MasterCard.

Thanks for everyone's kind comments.

Watch Out Beantown, Here Comes Gareth!

Gareth will leave for Boston on Saturday morning. We spent a great deal of last evening in preparation mode. You know: determining which clothes he'll take for his 3 day trip, making sure they're all dry cleaned ('cause teenaged boys don't care about things like that, I've found). After I picked him up from school, we headed to get the max for the minimum (TJ Maxx) to shop for shirts. We definitely found a couple we liked but were thrilled to find a pair of Ralph Lauren Polo chinos for $10. As best we could tell, the pants had original been $60; so we couldn't snatch them up quickly enough. Ka-ching (insert Gareth and me giving a high five)! Now that's a deal! Much like his stepmother, Gareth loves a bargain. We've long since been having conversations about fiscal responsibility, creditworthiness and, yes, even bargain-hunting. Thank God chats have rubbed off on him; this kid is a tightwad and admittedly so!

As he grows older, I am beginning to realize that he really has been listening to our money lectures. *swoons* We are hopeful that he doesn't make some of the same mistakes as we did in college.

When he goes to visit Harvard this weekend, he will have an allowance. Ever the miser, he will likely come back with about the same amount of money he left home with. He'd rather hang on to it and buy a video game later. Though he's wrapping up his junior year and this is a long ways off (it'd better be), all I can think is: his poor wife....this kid's sort of a cheapskate...ha!

Have you had money or budget conversations with YOUR kids? What do you think is the right age to begin talking about money?

What Are YOUR Kids Doing This Summer?

Thank God we are over this stage in parenting. Seriously...you have no idea.

Up until 2 summers ago, Gareth spent each late June-August at Camp Pasquaney in New Hampshire. Entering his senior year, he now spends his summers conditioning for the football season and will soon even be driving himself to campus for daily workouts...WooHoo!!!!! *insert pic here of Mr TBS and me doing the Running Man*

Even though we are out of the camp realm, I remember how grueling it can be to find the right fit for your kid.

I ran across this article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and thought it might be helpful to those of you who might be trying to save while keeping your child active this summer.

Enjoy!