Archive for the Just Another Mary Monday Category

The last time I wrote y’all, I told you I was credit card debt-free. Lest you think I’ve made a complete Dave Ramsey-inspired turnaround, let me tell you about my recent trip to Las Vegas, where, yes, I played in another pool tournament and lost. I also lost in the casino. You see, I got pulled in by the charismatic charm of a blackjack dealer who was so magnetic, so fun, so entertaining, I couldn’t pry myself away from her table. She just had one of those personalities – everybody wanted to be near her, including me. I

As some of you may remember, I have a bit of a history with credit cards. When the cashier tells me I stand to save 50% with a new loyalty card, it’s tough to say no to that sweet, smiling face! Southern ladies aim to please (and then, there is that great outdoor furniture set at Target!). But today, I’m celebrating a whole new lifestyle: I’m 100% credit card debt-free, and I plan to keep it that way with good ol’ fiscal responsibility. Here’s the thing, though. Years back, I told my husband Dale that

As the warm weather months roll in, my Facebook feed is filled with photos of adorable babies all dressed up, beautiful bursts of tulips and daffodils, weddings galore, and, of course, lots of rambunctious puppy videos. Now’s the season of rebirth, hope, and new beginnings! And, for the love of animals, you’ve got to see my new favorite video. A bride in Iowa decided to make her wedding especially warm and fuzzy by skipping traditional flower bouquets and walking down the aisle with puppies instead. She linked up with a rescue group that had managed to save

The decluttering craze is sweeping the nation, guys. Have you watched Netflix’s Tidying Up With Marie Kondo? It seems like everyone has. The sweet, soft-spoken organization guru from Japan has gazillions of views on Netflix, and she is bringing the life-changing magic of throwing out old stuff to households all over America. Gretchen Rubin, long-time self-help author, is cashing in, too, with her latest book Outer Order Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness. I haven’t read Rubin’s book yet, but I have seen Marie Kondo’s reality show. But let’s face it – reality

Love is blind, or so they say…. But true love? It’s got eyes and it sees everything, just ask my hubby Dale. This Valentine’s Day, he covered all of the bases: beautiful flowers, a sweet card, chocolates in a heart-shaped box, and…wait for it…reading glasses! If heading for the corner of CVS to peruse reading glasses for your wifey sounds a pinch unromantic compared to, say, a fluffy teddy bear or swanky candlelit dinner, think again. Monday through Friday, for years, I’ve been staring at not one or two – but three – computer monitors for nine

So, we’ve all had this experience: an inconsiderate driver cuts you off in the parking lot just to steal the space you were waiting for, and then what?  Basically… nothing. As your blood boils and you hold back a stream of cuss words, you tell yourself that *someday* karma will get him for you. Then, you drive on like the mature, not-road-raging adult that you are.  What’s better, though? When karma swoops right in and does its work right in front of you.  For instance, one man who’d just gotten cut off by somebody in the

On a recent trip to Walmart, I was launched down memory lane when I saw a surprising addition to their inventory: vinyl records! I could hardly contain my excitement or nostalgia. As a child, I remember sitting by a huge stereo and listening to music on the record player with my family. My dad played this game with us where he’d put on a mystery record and we had to guess who the artist was. One time, when I was about six years old, I knew the song and the artist’s first name, but for the life

Most days, I aim to be a sweet and charming gentlewoman of the South, but when game day comes around, all bets are off. As many of you already know, last week Alabama (ranked #1) and Clemson (#2) faced off at the College Football National Championship. Both teams came in undefeated, but our quarterback threw two interceptions and Clemson…well, let’s just say I feel no need to share the final score. I was hot, and bothered, and upset, and I had no idea what to do with myself except for prep for next season.