Merry Christmas from the Coopers!

Vacation? yep.....

Well, that last post ended up being appropriate. I have taken a break from pretty much everything for the past couple of months...When you think of me, picture me in a hammock with a smile...if only I had one (a hammock, not a smile. I have a great smile!).

I've had this song in my head for the past couple of months. It's a familiar one, but it never gets old. (not my video...)



Enjoy!

Picture me here...

As I sit at my desk at work, in my mind I am here. Today is perfect weather for a hammock nap. Or at least a hammock-book-read or hammock-mind-clearing in the breeze.

If I were to go to my "hammock happy place" (as opposed to my "beach happy place"), I'd take my iPod and A Confederacy of Dunces and just escape. Who's with me?

I might even use the following song as my theme for the day -- "Cathedrals" by Jump Little Children. (The accompanying video is good, too, although I'm not sure who made it...but you might see your happy place in one of the photos...)

Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Enjoy the moment.




Sigh...

Great book, decent movie

Kurt and I just finished reading The Secret Life of Bees. I read it in a week's time, told him it was good, and he finished it in two days. (Speedreader. Lame.)

We watched the movie last night. I tend to enjoy books more than movies, and this screenplay did not change my mind. It was not horrible, but still disappointed me in some areas. It mainly followed the book's storyline, but casting could've been better.

The best cast characters were Alicia Keys for June and Sophie Okonedo for May. However, Jennifer Hudson wasn't the right choice for Rosaleen and Oprah would've been a better pick for August than Queen Latifah. Dakota Fanning did a decent job as Lily, but I wasn't blown away.

Anyway, I highly recommend the book -- repeat, HIGHLY -- but I don't recommend the movie.

.

Speaking of remakes, I do have a favorite. One of my favorite books is Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Oddly enough, I also enjoy the Americanized/modernized movie version which stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke.


Click the video below to see my favorite scene in the movie. I also love the music in this scene. It is an original score written for this movie.

Tupelo Sighting: Dog lover

Ok, so this guy really likes pit bulls. I'm thinking my next window sticker will say, "If it ain't lab, it's drab." What do you think? Maybe I need to add a curse word or two for emphasis...

Did that just happen?

Yesterday I kept the nursery at church, and the sweetest little boy sat in my lap and had an accident on my skirt. I felt something moist and hot on my leg, and then I noticed he had peed.

I felt like an R. Kelly victim.

So, how was your weekend?

Anybody seen this?

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past few months, you have undoubtedly seen the commercials advertising the Neckline Slimmer.

I had two thoughts the first time I saw the commercial:

1. Yeah right.

2. Ouch!

This item claims to reduce double chins and turkey necks (my words). However, there's no way this thing works. You'd have to do a gazillion neck crunches to make any progress. Can you imagine sitting at your desk at work and using this neckersizer (yep, made it up) all day? Others would find you very agreeable. (pun intended.)

Also, notice in the above picture. In the "before" picture, the lady is forcing her double chin because her nose is pointed slightly down. In the "after" picture, her nose is pointed straight out, thus reducing the size of her double chin. And let's not forget PHOTOSHOP.

In fact, that might be two different women. Their hair falls at different lengths. Maybe it's a mother (double chin) and a daughter who has yet to inherit it.

Secondly, can you imagine how painful these neck nods would be? Ouch! Instead of reducing chin/neck fat, it is my expert medical opinion that it would pull the side muscles in your neck, thus prohibiting you from turning your head from side to side without excrutiating pain.

As you may have deciphered, I will not be purchasing this...crap. Instead, I have started a savings envelope to have plastic surgery on my inevitable neck flap in the future. I am taking donations if you care to contribute to the Single Chin, No Extra Neck Skin FUND.

Hey, it happens...

It's just been one of those weeks. Know what I mean?

85 and counting

Happy birthday to the sweetest man I know! My grandfather turns 85 today.

A lady in West Point petitioned the locals to get together and send him 85 birthday cards for his special day. As of yesterday (the day before his birthday), he already had 93!

I am so thankful this day will be special for him. He deserves it. Love you, Granddad!

Let me also mention that the sweetest lady I know, my grandmother Martha (for whom I am named) turned 83 on July 25. She would kill me if she knew I published her age on the web.

My sweet grandparents also celebrated 30 years of marriage in June 11 this year. May they have many more together!

Happy anniversary to us!

Four years ago today, my grandfather walked me down the aisle to marry Kurt at Grace Presbyterian Church in Starkville.






Then Kurt took me home to be his wife.


We had a lovely reception at Old Waverly golf club in West Point.







As we were leaving, my friends Becca and Kathryn put birdseed down my dress.






My response.



Even so, off we go!

I love you, Kurty-poo! :)

The Coopers

Kurt, Marty & Winnie

Shut your biscuit hole!

Hardee's has introduced another breakfast menu item: Biscuit Holes. As previously noted on this blog, I adore Hardee's biscuits. I will likely try this new delicacy out of curiosity, but I feel certain that when I want to splurge on calories, I will stick to the regular, whole biscuit.

One reason I want to try the holes is because of the following hilarious video. Enjoy!

You won't likely see this video on television because a conservative media watchdog has targeted Hardee's for risque commercial content. (Lame, guys.) Therefore, I am bringing it to you for your viewing pleasure!




You. Are. Welcome.

Any suggestions?

I just finished reading the atrocious Twilight series. I do not recommend them. At the risk of offending my blog followers, I will explain my reason for not liking the books. The first one started out decently (but nowhere near the literary genius of a series in a similar genre: Harry Potter), then got progressively worse with each subsequent novel.

Sorry, Ginger.

Each time author Stephanie Meyer built up excitement toward a potentially important and/or dangerous event, she never came through with an equally-as-exciting conclusion. Quite a few times, the reader anticipated something major happening, and it didn't. It just didn't happen.

PLUS, some parts of the series got just plain creepy. You know what I'm talking about. Men falling in love with (excuse me, "imprinting upon") toddlers. ????? Can't handle it.

So, I am taking suggestions for what to read next. Please help me recover from Twilight's drain on my brain cells and free time. It's time for some quality literature!

A mile in her shoes...sort of

Have you ever heard anyone say that in order to better understand someone, try "walking a mile in her shoes"? Today I did just that...kind of.

I was cleaning Winnie's crate, and Kurt asked me if I thought I could fit inside it. It is a medium-sized crate because we hope she will only grow to be a medium-sized dog...

So, I took the challenge. I crawled in the little door and, after spending enough time for Kurt to take my photo, I managed to crawl out. I plan to acquire a side job as a contortionist after managing my way into that cage.

Sitting next to the cage is Winnie's lovey that she snuggles with every night. I bet it could've fit in there with me, too. Hmmm, let's see...

Meet Winnie Cooper

Kurt and I adopted a puppy on Saturday. After she was spayed, we brought her home yesterday. We named her Winnie after the lovable girl next door on The Wonder Years who just happens to share our last name.

Outside on our bench. Afraid of heights?

She likes to put both front paws in the food and water.

Winnie and Marty

Shameless plug

I just had the BEST shower of my life. Why? Because today I bought and used the Schick Quattro razor.

I know, I know, they're going to come out with the Schick Ocho, like, next week, and I'll be really mad about it because adding more blades is just ridiculous. However, I may NEVER switch to another razor after using this one today.

I literally couldn't feel the blades on my skin. I might as well have been caressing my legs and underarms with silk. Yes, it is THAT amazing.

I love the Schick Quattro, and here's how I know it is the real deal. Ask yourself this question, "Do I have pretty underarms?" If you are like me, and the answer is "no," there is hope! You can get them with the Schick Quattro.

I had a friend growing up named Mary Esther. She had the most beautiful armpits in all the land. I kid you not. Every summer we'd go to camp and she'd wear tank tops and display her smooth underams and I'd be so jealous. I have a friend named Emory from Tupelo who has pretty underarms, too. I now call pretty armpits "emorypits."

A few moments ago, I hopped out of the shower and ran to the mirror in anticipation to look at my armpits. Guess who has smooth, lovely underarms now? Yours truly! Thank you, Schick Quattro!

An affair to remember: New Orleans in wedding season

Recently my dear friend Audrey Fort married Doug Smith in New Orleans. They are both natives of Baton Rouge and went to college at Tulane. Kurt and I met Doug and Audrey during the fall of 2005.

They were forced to evacuate New Orleans and Tulane in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and chose to attend Millsaps College in Jackson for a semester before returning to New Orleans in the spring of 2006.

Even though we only lived in the same town for one semester, Audrey was my dearest friend in Jackson. I met her when I was newly married -- about 3 weeks -- and had just started my journey into adulthood. She was so kind and understanding, and to this day she is one of my dearest friends.

Audge is my inspiration for lots of things, but mainly fashion and learning. She also encourages me to exercise my writing talents and dig deeper into myself to believe in who I am.

Also, she's wildly witty and super cute! Enough of the sappy stuff and on to a preview of her wedding weekend.

Thursday:

Kurt and I arrived in New Orleans and commenced with wedding activities. Since I was a bridesmaid (the only non-family bridesmaid, thank you very much!), I rarely left Audrey's side the whole weekend. I was honored to be chosen to participate in her wedding, and it was incredibly fun! (And Kurt hung out with and had a great time getting to know the groomsmen as well.)

We started the weekend with cocktails at The Columns, and antebellum home now serving as a restaurant. The spring weather was perfect!

Julie (A's sister), Sarah (A's cousin), Audrey, and me

After cocktails and delicious appetizers, we went back to Audrey's condo to change clothes and ready ourselves for her bachelorette party. We had a delicious dinner at The Melting Pot (Audge's fave). Audrey then opened her lingerie gifts. The best gift was from her future sister-in-law, who couldn't bear to give Audrey any typical lingerie.

Adult onesie

The girls at The Melting Pot

We then met up with the groom and groomsmen (and Kurt) at the Omni Royal hotel in downtown NOLA and proceeded to Pat O's where, yes, I got a hurricane in a souveneir glass.

The girls at Pat O's.

Friday:

Friday morning we went to the Commander's Palace for Audrey's bridal brunch. Aside from a couple of wardrobe malfunctions (The dress Audge chose to wear got dirty in her trunk, so she had to go with a backup, which looked fabulous... and my dress's strap broke at the restaurant, and Julie had to get a safety pin from the waiter for me), the morning was lovely.

I ate gumbo and and New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp, and had a couple of mimosa's as well! It was a fine southern dining experience!

Audrey with Julie, her younger sister and maid of honor.

For dessert we ate cake, but not before the bridesmaids and flower girl pulled charms out of it. I got the wishing well...for good luck in the future... or whatever.

Pulling the cake charms

Friday evening Doug and his family hosted the rehearsal dinner at the Napoleon House, located a block away from the wedding location -- the garden terrace of the Omni Royal Hotel. Before we ate dinner, watched a slideshow of Doug and Audrey grow up, and hear all their friends gush over them, we had cocktails on the "party porch."

Kurt with some groomsmen on balcony

Doug's friends introduced me to a delicious local drink called a Pimm's Cup (which I called Pimp Juice, of course). Look it up. It's yummy. Kurt even liked it!

Kurt, Audge, Doug, Marty

Saturday:

Saturday was the wedding day! It went off without a hitch...well, I'm sure there were a few hitches, but Doug and Audge ended up hitched anyway.

Gracie Lou Freebush and the bride

The blushing bride

Katie, Audrey, Julie (sisters)

Kurt and me

First dance

Doug, along with his college a capella group, sang "Accidentally in Love" to Audrey. It was so romantic! Way to go, Doug!

After dancing the night away and enjoying gourmet food and beverages, we followed the bride and groom in the second line and waved goodbye to them as they rode away in a horse and carriage.

It was a weekend filled with romance, beautiful weather, excellent food and beverage, and lovely company. Thanks, Audrey! When can we do it again?

A Cooper Wedding

Kurt's cousin Eric got married in April. Here are some photos from the occasion.

Rehearsal Dinner at Maggiano's. Wedding outside at a country club. So fun!

Menu

Eric, Ashley, Marty, Kurt

The Cooper Siblings

Kurt's awesome cousins Morgan and Taylor

The happy couple