224/365

baby shower #8. max frizsell, can't wait to meet you.

223/365

Nevermind that I've watched 4 seasons in less than 3 weeks. Never mind that I wake up thinking I'm living in Dillon, Texas. Nevermind that I get goosebumps on an average of 4-5 times per episode. Nevermind that I cry at least once every 3-4 episodes. Nope, Friday Night Lights is not a show. Friday Night Lights is an alternate reality in which I have been living for some time now. And it has wrecked my world. *hence the absence of blog activity

Thanks to DVR, OnDemand and premium non-cable channels, I have become an avid television watcher in the past 3-4 years. But never, never, NEVER have I been so consumed with a group of characters. I mean, I love my Don Draper (MadMen), my Ari Gold (Entourage), my Larry David (Curb), my Dexter, my Nurse Jackie, my Walter & Jessie (Breaking Bad)......shall I continue? And, if you understood how much I meant that sentence then you would understand how big of a deal this next one is. I love these people more: Jason Street, Matt Saranson, The Taylor's, Buddy Garrity, Lyla Garrity, Tyra, and MOST importantly...TIM RIGGINS. GO #33!

I have always been one to prefer reality to a fantasy, the bitter truth over some dillusional happy ending. And it seems as thought this show captures the raw essence of the heart of America. To say it takes me back to my childhood would be an understatement. More specifically, it consistently and accurately portrays the people of my childhood. The way that Connie Britton talks to her daughter about sex is frightening familiar. The way that Jason Street looks at Lyla Garrity is also frightening familiar. The way Matt Saranson becomes the man of the house is frightening familiar. And the way I feel when Tim Riggins does anything, well, that is frightening familiar :) Basically, I have lived this show.

But what's more is that I have NOT lived for the past 3 weeks because of this show. My social life, my personal life and my career have all suffered. So, I'm happy to announce that I have watched the entire series and am back to reality. Which comes with the current mourning period I am experiencing. I know I sound like a lunatic when I say this, but I miss all my friends. I feel like they've all died. Feel free to send cards and casseroles to our house this week. I'll be ill...

222/365

A little party on the patio.

And, Kenny, congratulations. You made your first Flip Project cameo. Thiele will be jealous, I'm sure.

221/365

I'm been sitting here for a minute or two trying to figure out the best way to describe this steady overflow of gratitude that's been in affect all day. Here goes...

Most of my life is spent either thinking about a moment that just happened or the one that is about to happen. What do I think about what this person just said? What am I going to say when they quit talking? Where am I going when this is over? How do I feel about what just happened? You get my drift. This is good AND bad. Good because a life unexamined isn't a life lived. But it's bad because it distracts me from the current second that God just handed me. And when you're not fully engaged in the moment you miss the beauty of it.

Today wasn't like that. I felt like every minute was a rediscovery of the blessings in my life. At every turn was another face of someone who God has used to shape me. First, an amazing morning at Crosspoint where I found myself thinking "this music alone...these voices in unison...are proof enough that God loves us." And then there was this great message about community and how we should celebrate people without reservations, which sparked a much-needed revelation about myself, but that's another story. It was beautiful. And then I found myself surrounded by people I respect, love, cherish on the way out. Then I was on this bike ride with someone whom I have one of the most precious relationships of my whole life. And then I was sharing a meal with 8 amazing women, all celebrating the future Juliet Huebner. (yes, #7.)

And the thing is, none of these things are out of the ordinary. It was just that I was seeing them all through a different lens. Same world, different girl. Isn't that the truth.

220/365

Wanna have a baby soon? Become friends with me. Apparently, having me in your life is the only common denominator I can come up with to explain this epidemic. (Didn't I just use that word a couple days ago? Probably using it out of context. Oh well. It feels right. That's what she said. Completely inappropriate.) Focus, Nicolle. Focus. Today marks the 6th baby shower I've attended this summer. Congrats to Jessica Douglas....and Ashley Huebner. Her shower is tomorrow. Yep, that's 7. Like I said.....epidemic.

P.S. I'm not next. I know you just started typing that in the comment box.

219/365

If eating fried food was a sport, somebody I know would be an Olympian. You name it, he ate it. fried butter, Twinkies, Snickers, Oreos, homemade ice cream, bbq pork, sausage, corn dog. Should I continue?

218/365

It is just stupid how much talent is in this town. We went to see the Jompson Brothers play tonight with a crew of crazies. They were so good they caused a sudden hiccup epidemic. Luckily, I'm a home remedy buff.

217/365

Yes, we said "All-American heartbreakers. Shaking what your mama gave ya."

216/365

Not my idea of a leisurely drive home.

215/365

Our eternal ray of sunshine showed his dark side tonight at Strike & Spare...or should i call it Ghetto Bowl? It must be tough to stand 4 feet tall, weigh 65 pounds soaking wet and try to get that ball down the lane...lots of pouting involved. Bowling fail for sure.

214/365

I came all the way to Nashville and all I got was 5 minutes in a Brookstone massage chair. The family weekend continues...

213/365

-Pucketts Grocery. Leipers Fork. 8.13.10

212/365

My mom and the Coopster just got in town. I am continually amazed at the amount of energy my brother has. Not hyper. Just pure, fresh, energy, from 6am-11pm. Whereas most people need a few minutes to recover from a 4 hour stint at the zoo in 100 degree temperatures, Cooper asks "what's next" as we're leaving. I love that boy. I wish I could manufacture whatever it is that makes him bounce off the walls and sell it over the counter.

211/365

Some say life will beat you down.

Break your heart, steal your crown.

So I've started out for God knows where.

I guess I'll know when I get there.

-Mr. Tom Petty @ Bridgestone Arena.

210/365

Alas, our summer co-ed slow pitch softball winning streak came to an end tonight as the CMT Swingers defeated our then undefeated Hollywood team in the league championship game. Some of tonight's highlights (from both the semifinal and final game, collectively) are:

#4. Rodney striking out.

#3. Rodney striking out again.

#2. Rodney nearly scaling the fence to snag a pop fly for the 2nd out in the 6th inning.

#1. Nicolle literally tripping in the dew-covered grass as she sacrificed her body to catch a fly ball in right center that bounced out of her glove, off of her torso and back into the glove, gracefully landing on her butt, but holding the ball up high in the air from the seated position to proudly display the proof of her Angels in the Outfield moment.

Now that the season's over, I can wholeheartedly say that I was the best at the being the worst player on the Hollywood team. But just like in Hollywood, some of the worst players make the best plays. I don't even know what that means, but I like it and it's 1:23 am. And I have to write a hit tomorrow. Not get a hit, but write one. No, really. I'm not deleting a word I just typed. I'm throwing in the towel. Now that I mention it, I could've really used a towel tonight. It was really hot...

209/365

I've been making a point to get away from the piano every once in a while. Not to discredit any singers who don't play instruments, but it is SOOOO much easier to not have two hands and one foot tied down to a stationary piece of equipment while everyone is staring at you. It's actually quite liberating to be able to use your hands to get your point across sometimes (TWSS!). Which from the looks of this video, I do in excess. Oh, Nicolle. You are your mother's daughter. Hand gestures and all.

208/365

Sometimes tradition is a tradition for a reason. Not just because it's the thoughtless way it's always been. Sometimes the way it's always been is the way it should be.

We live a very unconventional lifestyle around here. Rarely do we eat dinner together. Let alone in our house. Let alone at the table. Let alone something I cooked. But tonight, we broke the mold. I cooked a candlelit dinner while Rodney did some home improvement projects and worked in the yard. There was something about just sitting in the comfort of our home with the tv turned off staring at each other from across the table. We were more engaged in each other's conversation than we ever would have been down the street at our neighborhood mexican joint or downtown with friends.

And as for the cooking, I don't naturally love to cook. But the concept of serving somebody else is always, always, always fulfilling. I totally get how my grandma cooked three meals a day for 7 kids and a hungry husband and always had a pep in her step. To serve is to be satsified. I'm getting there, I can feel it.

207/365

We made the drive from Nashville to ATL in 3 and a half hours, had my neighbor bring clothes downtown, showered and got ready for the wedding in 40 minutes, charged my video camera in the backseat while we pulled up the address to the chapel on our iphones, and walked into the church with 30 seconds to spare. WHEW. Congrats, Josh & Danae! One of the best wedding I've been to.

206/365

This leisurely 2-and-a-half day trip to Atlanta for Loopy's birthday turned into something very different very quickly. We left an hour late. We spent an hour at a standstill outside of Chattanooga on the way due to a car explosion. We spent an extra hour driving in circles in Atlanta before finally landing on Loopy's doorstep. 22 hours later we received a phone call that the wedding we were returning for on Saturday was actually Friday...in 5 hours!! Within 30 minutes we packed bags and painfully told Loopy sorry a million times for cutting our trip short and bolted out the door.

205/365

I always want to remember that on this day my best friend was bringing a child into the world, while I was drinking wine and writing a six-way song about an armadillo in a friend's studio. She called me in tears because she was scared. So I sat in the living room of this party bawling my eyes out with her. Yeah, I always want to remember that.

204/365

Is there really anything better than a song that you just can't stop listening to? What was once the frustration and thrill of tearing open the packaging on a new cd in the Walmart parking lot is now a one-click itunes satisfaction. But those moments of satisfaction are few and far between these days. So when I download a song and DO wanna listen to it on repeat all. day. long......the fan in me comes alive.

I am currently dealing with an obsession with the new Katy Perry material, namely the single "Not Like The Movies". It does everything a song should. It makes you feel. It makes you think. It is fulfilling on every level. The track actually sounds like a movie score- brilliant. The melody is cinematic- amazing. The vocal is unbelievably emotional. But what gets me the most (as is always the case) are the fresh lyrics. From first listen I was hooked, but had to keep listening over and over as I wrestled with what it was she was endorsing exactly. In fact, my co-writer and good friend, April, found ourselves in the Warner parking garage deliberating over the message. The verdict? Well, I'm not going to tell you that. What do YOU THINK she's saying?

Listen HERE then weight in. Andddd....GO!

203/365

And so it continues...

It will be difficult for me to fully explain today's events in regards to our neighboring house. Here's a random recap. The owner came over asking if we had seen the family that was living in the house. Then he offered to sell the house to us. Then he said that the couple that lived there had been unreachable for 2 months, all their phones were disconnected and they had appeared to abandon the premises with all their stuff still in it. As if that wasn't weird enough, the owner looks like someone I've never seen before....that's because he has since lost 200+ lbs since they moved 8 months ago...it freaked me out! How can someone lose that much weight so fast? I must've stared like an idiotic. I was in disbelief. Anyway, there's a notice of inspection on all the doors. The dogs are gone. (somewhat of a blessing) The lights are off. The house is vacant. But all the cars are still in the driveway. Stay tuned, people.

Just when I thought this was over, it was really just getting good...

202/365

Sometimes the sky just stops you in your tracks.

"You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."-Nehemiah 9:6

201/365

I look like CRAP when I run (exhibit A- the video you just viewed). So why is it again that men feel the need to risk their lives, hang their head out the window and scream some derogatory remark my direction?

Dear 20-something boys in the silver Tacoma,

I'm not available.

Dear 30-something with your girlfriend in the passenger's seat at the stop light,

Quit staring.

Dear both of you firefighters rubbernecking while your lights are on,

Don't even think about it.

Sincerely,

A happily married woman who just wants to peacefully burn calories in public places.

200/365

You know that moment in Sleepless in Seattle when Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks finally lay eyes on each other? It's very intense, horribly romantic, and terribly meant-to-be. And for those first few moments together, the world moves in what seems to be an almost painful slow motion way? And it seems that all happiness is riding on this one connection?

Well, that's how I felt when I saw the FedEx man at my doorstep this morning. No, no, no!!! I don't have a thing for the FedEx man. In fact, I couldn't even tell you what his face looked like. My eyes, like laser beams, were too busy scanning the little brown box in his hands. For two years now I have succumb to the corporate abuse of a Sprint phone contract and have withstood the excruciating absence of apps.... and the story of meeting my iPhone 4 is a true fairy tale ending, indeed.

Dear iPhone, it's like I have already forgotten all life before you.

199/365

I am not going to lie. Because as was discussed in church this morning, there can be no intimacy if there is no truth. And I want my readers to feel close to me. So, in an effort to create intimacy with you, I would like to say the following: I have been in a blogging rut. Full confession as follows...

It seems that the I have been slacking here lately. I haven't dropped the ball completely. Just cheating on the boundaries I had initially set for this little project; the timeliness, the consistency. And I can't really put my finger on what has caused me to stray. But I am here to say that after tonight's catch-up, I am refocusing. A video a day, as promised. Because I said I would. And I would like to realign with the stubborn, strong-willed woman that had a vision for people reading this blog every night. Well, people can't read this blog every night if I don't post a new entry every night. So, cleanse the palette and lets move forward...shall we?

Aha, yes. The birthday that never ends. Dinner and everyone's favorite form of dairy, Sweet Cece's, with some beautiful women. Yum yum. Or, if it is true what they say that you are what you eat... then moooooo.