Fabulous Friday Picture Edition

Hi lovelies

Aren't you all glad Friday is finally here?

I'm back from Vermont after a whirlwind week. I ate some great food & had two good sessions up there.

I also snapped a few pictures that I knew I had to share.

How cute is this guy? He apparently gets ridden around Church Street in Burlington on his owner's bike. What a way to travel!


I snapped these pictures yesterday morning at around 6am. The sun was rising & was so so pretty from the seat of my plane.


And for anyone who travels on small planes, 5:30am is not the time to start an argument with a tired business traveler. Instead of arguing with you about your ability to store your stuff under the seat (in MY SPACE) instead of in the overhead (which is where it goes if you're in the bulkhead), I'll hit that "Flight Attendant" button & have them tell you to move your stuff rather than deal with you.

Yep, I'm glad it's finally Friday and I'm glad to be home!!

What would you save?

This past Sunday Mr. Potts and I were enjoying a quiet afternoon. I was dozing off while he was watching the Panthers (lose badly) and keeping track of his Fantasy Football team.

I was woken up by our doorbell ringing sharply. It wasn't the leisurely ring of a neighbor bringing over freshly made cookies or bread (wish that actually happened!); it was a sharp ring of panic.

I pulled my blanket over my head and started to doze back off when he came bounding back up the stairs, grabbed the fire extinguisher and told me to call 911 - our next door neighbor's unit was on fire.

I grabbed our phone and went out on the deck. Smoke was pouring out of her front door and I saw Mr. Potts and two of our neighbors run into her home. They came back out very quickly while I tried to answer the questions the 911 operator was asking me.

Sirens were roaring in the distance while our courtyard filled with smoke.

Neighbors were coming out of their homes, coming together in the courtyard to comfort our neighbor.

Two fire engines pulled up & while they unrolled the hoses, Mr. Potts was talking to them about what happened. After one of our neighbors sprayed the fire, it apparently rolled up from her stove which set off the sprinklers.

Her home was safe, albeit with a bit of water damage.

We have a bit of water damage to our garage wall where the water leaked through from her unit.

No one was hurt.

In the aftermath, our neighbors gathered to talk and commiserate. We began to get to know each other.

Our neighbor will need new cabinets, but there was no life lost & no one was hurt.

That evening we opened up and laughed. We learned a little more about each other. And we made plans to do more things as a neighborhood.

I hugged my neighbor and told her that she should never hesitate to ring our doorbell. She looked slightly abashed and told me that she never wanted to bother anyone.

I hope she knows now that it isn't a bother. That's what our neighborhood should be about.

Getting ready for bed that night, I looked at Mr. Potts and asked what he would grab if that were to happen to us.

He looked around and said he'd make sure to save our babes.

We laughed & talked about how we need a sign. Hayden would never hesitate to go with someone. Pepe Cat? Well, the sign would read something like this:

"Fluffy orange cat in the house. Will not come if you call him. Will probably run and hide. Most likely under a bed. Grab him by the belly & run. He doesn't have front claws & isn't limber enough to really reach around and get you. But don't forget about him. He's pretty awesome & we want to keep him."

We laughed, but I still wonder what I'd save and what I'd realistically be able to. I don't know that I'd be able to, but as long as I'd have my family, I'd be whole.

PS: For those looking for Fall - Vermont has it. It will be in the 40's Wednesday night here in Burlington. I'll send a little your way.

Fabulous Friday - Legs Edition

My appointment with the vein specialist yesterday went well.

As well as can be expected when you know walking in that varicose veins run in your family & you've already got them.

I learned quite a bit while I was there. Like the fact that all the things I'm currently doing to try & keep my legs as healthy as possible are the right things to do.

Elevate your legs after a long day? Check.
Take ibuprofen for pain? Check.
Walk to help increase blood flow? Check.

With all that, however, my insurance company requires a 3 month period of "conservative therapy". Which means that while I've been doing everything I should be that any corrective therapy (vein work) can't be done until I've worn a pair of medical grade compression stockings for 3 months.

The height of fashion, I tell you.

Thank God Fall is here, otherwise I wouldn't survive wearing these in the heat.

I'm supposed to wear these every day. Take a moment and envision me in these with my running shorts on working out.

Laughing yet? I am.

Probably not going to happen.

I will however, wear them as often as I can, especially when flying and when I'll be on my feet all day facilitating.

I found myself looking at these last night and thinking that if I could dye them jet black, I could potentially pull off the legging look with them. Then I remembered the pair of leggings I tried on in Target. Perhaps I was onto something there.

When I attempted to put these on this morning, I thought it would be a breeze. Like pulling on a pair of thick tights.

I forgot these are almost 40% spandex. Hahahahaha.

As I was bending and twisting and pulling and grunting Hayden & Pepe Cat sat in the doorway with their heads bent to the side. I'm sure they were wondering what I was doing that caused me to bend in funny positions and mutter obscenities under my breath.

I tugged & they didn't move.

I pulled and pulled. Not an inch.

I remembered the blue "helper" I was given to get them on. I used that to shroud my foot.

They moved an inch or so.

I scrunched down (anyone getting the vision of scrunchy socks?) and then attempted to smooth out.

Worked a bit more.

Finally, 15 minutes after I started they were on.

I looked ridiculous. My legs felt like sausages squeezed tight in a casing.

My legs were completely compressed...or encased, whichever way you want to think about it.

I have a feeling this will be a long three months.

Happy Friday, y'all!!!

Stems, Pipes, Sticks, Legs

The last time I posted, it was all about legs. This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately.

While I have good legs (they get me where I need to go, I can take Hayden for walks, squats and lunges may be the bain of my existence, but I can do them), I don't have great legs.


When you look at my legs from the front, they're fine. Take a look from behind & on my left calf you'll see the beginnings of varicose veins.

These are caused by a myriad of reasons and I seem to have been hit with a few of them. Genetics, long periods of standing, poor circulation, etc. There have been days recently when after a full day of facilitation, I look down at my calf and the veins are bulging.

And y'all, it hurts. I mean, seriously hurts.

So I'm going today for a consultation with a vein specialist here in Charlotte to see about what I can do.

Aren't you glad it's Thursday??

Wordless Wednesday - She's Got Legs

images via

A Tale of a Birthday Weekend

As you know, my dinner on Thursday with Mr. Potts was wonderful!

Did I tell you I had a goat cheese butter for my topping on my filet? HEAVEN - Cabernet reduced down, butter and goat cheese folded in. I DIE.

I also caught up on the Rachel Zoe Project on Sunday (seriously, love that show). Every time I watch it, I want to be better.

Better accessorizer.

Better dresser.

Better do-er of hair.

Speaking of hair, mine is whacked out right now! I swear, I've got an appointment on the 11th, but my hair grows like a weed. I'll take a picture to show you my roots - just not this week. I'll wait right up until I go in to get that mess (hot mess if we're honest) taken care of.

Back to my weekend.

Mr. Potts surprised me on Thursday with a beautiful new top from one of my favorite little boutiques in Charlotte.

And let me tell you, the man knows how to pick clothes for me.

BIG SMILE

Friday came and off to my mom's we went for dinner with her & the munchkins. They were so excited to help their favorite (only) aunt blow out her one candle. Yes, only one candle, because as my mom explained, 34 might melt the cake.


Saturday we celebrated my aunt's 60th birthday with my dad & his side of the family. Fun was had all around.
Mr. Potts' other birthday present to me. Can't really see the detail as well, but the shoulders are a sparkly blue!

Sunday was actually a low key day for us. Mr. Potts calculated taxes - I KNOW it's only August! But he is super methodical & wants to make sure we max everything out & make the most of our income. While he did that, I caught up on RZ. LOVE

I'm also thinking about ordering these shoes. I'm thinking I'll love them for work (and standing when I facilitate sessions) but I'm not sold on ordering online & no where around here carries them in my size.



Do I bite the bullet & just return them if they don't work?

PS: They're actually much prettier in person. Promise - doesn't everyone say that?

Is is really Tuesday already??

Remembering Katrina

Five years ago today I watched in horror from NC as Katrina barreled through a city I love with a passion that not many understand.

Five years ago I was devastated, in tears, watching the scenes that were broadcast across the nation.

Five years ago I was desperately trying to get in touch with some of my best friends. Petrified that they had stayed, I had begged them just days before to flee.

Five years ago I said "Thank You God" when I heard that these people had managed to get out.

Today, I still tear up thinking about it. I still tear up hearing news reports about the efforts to bring NOLA back from the devastation.

Today, I'm thankful that these wonderful people were safe and that they escaped relatively unscathed.

I'm thankful that we were able to share a wedding two years ago back in NOLA (where a wedding in July will MELT you).

Michael & Emily - two of my besties.

Mr. Potts & Emily pre-wedding two nights before

Michael and me - love this guy!

Gus and Trey - my two other besties

Side note - Red Bull and Tequila is not the best option after a full afternoon of consumption. Although it leads to great times, you may not remember all of them!

Birthday Dinner Note: My dinner was super duper fantabulous. Unfortunately, not a single picture was taken. Mayra has shamed me with her food pictures and now I want a new camera. Any recommendations?