I need what?

I have been tagged by my dear bloggy friend, Aubree, over at The Southern Family. She just happens to be the “Southern Mama Blogger of the Week” over at Southern Living.

Anywhoo, for this Meme you have to head on over to Google and type in the phrase: "(Your name) needs" then list the top 10 results. The results can be quite amusing.

So here we go:

1. Tammy needs your prayers and good wishes (Well, if this won’t make the worry-wart paranoid, I don’t know what will.)

2. Tammy needs a baby (Ummm, NO SHE DOESN'T....that would be the end of my sanity as we all know it. And the Lord knows, that would not be funny at all.)

3. Tammy needs a performance installation that incorporates autobiographical text, original music and audience interaction. (So if any of you folks can help me with this I would be much obliged.)

4. Tammy needs constant care (Probably true and especially when chocolate is involved.)

5. Tammy needs the help of other dog lovers like you. (Yes, if anybody could tell me how to get my 13 year old Labrador to go out and immediately do her business without me standing there, that would be priceless!)

6. Tammy needs to know how much we are willing to do. (That depends on who "we" are and what "we" are doing)

7. Tammy needs clothes. (This IS so true....Staci?? Clinton?? are you here??)

8. Tammy needs us. (If "us" is a cook, maid, personal assistant and/or plastic surgeon then this is true)

9. Tammy needs a group in Spokane. ( I couldn't find Spokane on a map if my life depended on it…but I do know it’s in Washington state.)

10. Tammy needs to be informed. (nothing new here, I am always the last to know)

I’m not gonna tag anybody else but if you want to play along, let me know so I can stop by and see what YOU NEED!

A Top 10 of 2008

In celebration and reflection of another year gone by, Jules from The Roost is hosting a end of the year par-tay!

She wants participants to choose their Top 10 photos from 2008.

Easy enough, right?! Ummm, yea.

So I consulted my handy dandy Photoshop program only to discover that SOMEONE has taken close to 1 million 3700 photos THIS YEAR!

In this anonymous person’s defense, there was a lot of scanning of old photos done this year. As well as, one 9 year old who also contributes to the photo taking addiction fun.

Ahem.

Moving along.

May I present to you a very tiny stroll down memory lane at the GRITS household from 2008:

February 2008, the hubby became deacon at church and I became known as Lillian.

Big birthday for me this year, the big 4-0. Hubby threw me a not-so surprise birthday party. Complete with video.

In honor of my big birthday, I hosted Girls Night Out, 80’s style. Except my friends wore 80’s dress in BLACK to mourn the passing of my youth. *sigh*

Hubby, with the Princess in her favorite spot, that she is almost too big for.

Rare moment where someone was caught sharing the love with Dad.

This was the year, Lego-Man, got brave. Here he is jumping off a boat dock into the lake.

The Princess insisted on playing flag football. She did. And also ran for a touchdown from one end of the field to the other in her very last game.

We had a summer of “spend the night” parties. They took turns in each other’s room all summer long. And continue to do so each weekend. I’m going to enjoy it while I can.

Welcome to the home of Alabama football. Roll Tide!

And in case you missed it, THIS would be my very favorite photo of 2008. These are the littlest cousins:

So glad you came by….for more Top Ten 2008 photos click here to visit my bloggy friend, Jules over at The Roost where you might just catch a glimpse of Mr. Perfect.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in 2009!

Happy New Year, bloggy peeps!

Then Sings My Soul-- MWS

Thanks for stopping by for a rare Saturday post here at the GRITS house. I am stalling. I am about to embark on the weekend edition of “The Cleaning of the Pig Sty”.

But not before I have a hot caffeinated beverage. Because I left this winter favorite in my lunch bag at work:

I had to settle for NEW and DELICIOUS discovery that you must try:

Now that I’ve got my hot cup of java, I thought I would join in this Meme I saw over at Mel’s place. The Meme originates at Amy’s Signs, Miracles, and Wonders.

The “rules” are simple:

Just write a post on your blog about a song. It can be a song that has spoken to your heart during a difficult time... a song that brings back a special memory... a song that makes you want to sing along to the top of your lungs... a song that makes you glad... a song that makes you want to dance... a song that has inspired you... a song that makes you feel like the words were written just for you... a song that makes your soul sing.

The song I have chosen to share today is by my all time favorite artist, Michael W. Smith. I’ve been listening to Smitty since his beginning in Contemporary Christian music.

I can remember using my TAPE RECORDER to tape his songs off the radio. Do you know how hard it was to hit the play button AND the record button at the same time, at the right time, to get ALL of the song on the cassette???

Anywhoo…..those days are over and now I have a CD I can wear out in my car and on my iPod. And I can even watch MWS sing over on YouTube. Yay!

This song is from his most recent album “A New Hallelujah”. You may remember I was quite giddy about attending this concert last month.

If you don’t own it, buy it, download it, whatever you need to do. Enough banter, here’s the title track:

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

And click over to Amy’s here if to see what songs others have chosen to share.

Picture This….

Found this at my blog peep Jen’s, of Dust Bunny Hostage fame. I liked it and decided to use it since I am lacking in creativity this week.

How old are you?

What is your middle name?

(minus the Aguilera AND the hoochie-momma-ness)

Where is your dream vacation?

( the home land)

Where were you born?

What is your favorite color?

What is your favorite drink?

What is your favorite cartoon?

If you like it, play along and leave me a comment here so I will know to come check yours out. Thanks and have fun!

It’s Fall Y’all

In honor of the slightly cooler temperature and the feeling of Fall in the air, here’s a yummy recipe perfect for a Fall get together:

Pumpkin Dip

1 (8oz) cream cheese, softened

1 (16oz) box powdered sugar, sifted

1 (15oz) solid pack pumpkin

1 T. ground cinnamon

1 T. pumpkin pie spice (or can substitute 1/2 to 1 tsp. ground nutmeg)

Beat cream cheese until creamy

Gradually add powdered sugar, and beat well

Stir in cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice until well blended.

Chill.

Serve with Ginger Snaps, Nilla wafers or Graham crackers.

Serving idea: place dip in hollowed out small sugar pumpkin.

For more Fall recipes, including a delicious recipe for Corn Chowder, click here.

YUMMY!

Tagged by a Queen

Who can say no to a meme when it was the Queen B herself that tagged you. She’s right up there with BooMama in my book, so I shall consider it an honor to have been tagged by Her Majesty and play along.

For this meme the rules are simple:

1. Write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected you, either positively or negatively.
2. link back to the person who tagged you
3. link back to this parent post
4. tag a few friends or five, or none at all
5. post these rules— or just have fun breaking them

Just for a little background, for the newer folks. I began blogging after a little encouragement from my BFF from college, Teresa. My blogging career began last September 28th, prior to a trip to Japan for my brother’s wedding. Almost one year later, here we are.

1. The most obvious way blogging has affected me is it allows me to have an outlet from every day life. Not only in my own writings but through the writings of others.

I have never been an English or grammar scholar and if you ask any of my past teachers, writing was NOT my forte. There’s no grade here, no chance that I’m going to get my creative writing paper back with a bunch of red all over it. So, I write about what I want and insert punctuation where I want and I love to use ….. when I want.

2. I have developed “friendships” with people I don’t even know. But over time have grown to think of these people as true friends. I have found myself saying, “my friend said” and be completely referring to a post written by a blog buddy.

And on a more serious note, I have been a prayer warrior for people that I have never met, but totally know God allowed me to cross their path for a reason. The stories and lives of others has deepened my faith.

3. I’m not saying that I’m the funniest person in the world, because I know that would not be true. And the truth is I aspire to be funny, and I have aspired for a long time to be funny. I like trying to be witty and interject sarcasm at every opportunity. It’s me, it's totally who I have been and forever will be.

And through this blog I have that opportunity. I have people that read my blog and care to share with me how my post made them laugh so hard it made them cry. That makes me feel good and validates the reason I entered the blog world.

I’ve had more than one person tell me I need to write a book. I think that’s stretching it quite just a bit. And no, mom, I am not the next Erma Bombeck. Thanks for the compliment though.

4. I was never one to keep a diary. And the thought of writing in a journal exhausts me. I mean, who can keep up with all that, umm, writing?! Wait a minute, isn’t that what I do here. Why yes it is. *poof* Instant online journal/scrapbook.

My kids have "Greek GRITS” as an icon on their computer and they are constantly looking to see what I have posted here about them. And my son, often says “we need to put that on Greek GRITS”. I may just have a future blogger on my hands.

5. The most negative thing related to blogging would be time spent on the computer. Once the kids go to bed, I spend a good bit of time writing my own posts and reading through my favorite sites. I love to leave comments on other folks sites, which does take time. But my motto is: in order to make new friends, you have to be a friend.

WOW, I made it. I actually came up with 5 things. I was totally prepared to go my own way and list 3 things because I am not that creative.

So, now I am going to tag a few special folks who have made my day many times by leaving me comments. In the blogging world, comments are like an A+ at the top of my paper. This is my own special way to say thanks to these folks, but please come back! :-)

1. Shannon at Muzbee Crazy

2. Kirby3131 at the Goat

3. Leslie at Light Came

4. Nik at Exceptional Voyage

5. And whomever else wants to participate, just leave me a comment to your link.

Thanks, Queen B for the fun and making me not have to think too hard for today’s post.

Time out

We interrupt the perpetual side splitting fun and the useful information provided on this blog for a Monday meme break.

This break in blog action is brought to you courtesy of Beachy Mimi. She has so kindly tagged me today and wants me to provide you, the reader, with 6 random things about myself.

BTW, I found a drawing of Beachy Mimi on my most recent trip to the beach.

I kid, Mimi. The title is “Beach Mama”. I believe Mimi more than likely looks much better in her swimsuit and her “girls” are more north facing!

So, on with my 6 random things:

1. I love the Nintendo Wii, especially playing Super Mario Kart

2. I am a bowling super star, or something like that

3. I am scared to death of flying in a plane.

4. Sometimes I have to wear glasses at work, to protect my eyes from harmful lasers

5. I cheer for the Crimson Tide, and have been a fan all my life

6. My favorite vacation place on the planet, Disney World!

Here’s a complete list of the rules to participate in this little blogging meme.

1) Link to the person who tagged you: Beachy Mimi

2) Post the rules on your blog
3) Write 6 random things about yourself
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up

Because I am running out of posting time, if you stop by here frequently I am tagging you. So all 6 of you who read my blog, get to posting 6 random things about you and pass the meme spirit on!