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Camellias & Copper

A Southern Girl's Blog About Life

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A Tale of Emory + His Big Sister

October 29, 2020 by Michelle Filed Under: Being a Mom Leave a Comment

If you’ve met my youngest child, Emory, who is everything boy, this story will not surprise you. I often post things like this about him on Facebook and Instagram because to be honest, he’s crazy. Manic at times. And Eliza Jane is typical middle child go-with-the-flow, I’ll do whatever anyone tells me to, which is not a good combo when Emory is ‘in charge’.

Here we go: yesterday school was over for the two big kids so I told everyone to shut off their Chromebooks because Lord knows 7.5 hours on technology will fry one’s brain cells. Remember that commercial in the 80’s or 90’s with the egg in the frying pan – the ‘this is your brain on drugs’ commercial? Well, I feel like that’s how we’re all going to feel in about 40 years, from being on these dang computers all.day.long.
I digress.

I told the kids to shut off their Chromebooks and go outside to play. Emory promptly burst into tears, picked his up and started to walk outside WITH it in his clammy little hands!

“No sir.” I said, sternly. More tears.
I took the Chromebook back inside and sat it on the dining room table where he and Eliza Jane had been doing their school work.
Now, side note, Emory is technically not in school, but when brother and sister are constantly on their devices he feels left out so I let him do “school work” aka PBS Kids for the last 30 min of the school day. #winning

Okay, so we were all outside playing, having a jolly good time when Reynolds made Eliza Jane mad/sad/emotional, so she had a meltdown and asked to go see the neighbor. Sure. Whatever. Stop crying.

Some short time later, I walked into the house through the front door and lo and behold Eliza Jane AND Emory are sitting at his Chromebook watching a show. I was like, “WHATAREYOUDOING!?”
“Get OUTSIDE!!”

Back out they went. Not long after that, as I stood in the kitchen chopping garlic for our supper…. I looked out the window and realized I didn’t see any of my three children.
I walked to the back deck and yelled for them.
Nothing.
I yelled louder.
Still Nothing.
Not trying to sound completely hysterical, I yelled one last time.
“M’am!?” Came Reynolds’ voice from the garage. We talked; He obviously couldn’t hear me screaming. And he had no clue where his brother or sister were.

I walked back inside the house and through the front windows, noticed them sitting on the bench on the front porch.
I walked to the front door, opened the door and proceeded to ask what they were doing and I get this mischievous look from Emory, who AT THE SAME TIME IS CLOSING/CLUTCHING his Chromebook and for the second time in less than 15 minutes I was stunned!
This literally cannot be happening. I’m banging my head on a brick wall. NO.One. is listening/obeying.

I grabbed the Chromebook and sent both kids to their rooms for deliberately disobeying me.

the dynamic duo

Y’all won’t believe this.

Less than five minutes passed and I heard them upstairs chatting it up like they’re at the ice cream shop! I walked up the stairs, and Emory is UNDER THE BED talking and presumably hiding with Eliza Jane.

“GET.OUT.” I said. And without a peep, he got up and went back to his room, where again, he burst into tears.

I may have thrown my hands up in the air. Blown away. Y’all. This kid is the reason I dye my hair. God knows I love him to bits, but Lord help me I am silver-headed.

In the midst of his final melt-down, somehow he gave up and passed out.
#Iwon.

Until next time…

Wednesday Wisdom :: Your Story

October 28, 2020 by Michelle Filed Under: Life Leave a Comment

Your story is unique to you.
I heard this recently at a conference Andrew and I attended and I made a point to write it down for both of us because I didn’t want it to go in one ear and out the other, as most things at conferences do.

As I pondered the statement written at the top of my notepad this morning, I thought about how my story is uniquely mine, and probably very different from yours. You probably didn’t grow up in Middle Georgia, the area dubbed “the armpit of the South”, with a brother nicknamed “Tank”. These things I cannot make up.

You may or may not have flipped your first vehicle at the age of 17 and didn’t drive most of your Senior year of high school because you just didn’t want to. I mean, I had friends that were willing to drive me places, so…

Your spouse also probably didn’t pick you out of a crowd based on the blue purse you were carrying that unforgettable night you met…and yes, I still have the blue purse.

You may or may not have children, that may or may not sleep all night long, or go to school during this crazy time in our universe. Mine are virtually learning for those that can empathize.

Our stories may be similar in some areas, but we are all uniquely created AND we have unique upbringing and life stories that, combined all together forge who we are as an individual.

The world revolves because you have your fantastic story and I have mine and somehow together we can share similarities and differences and it’s so good and valuable. I don’t expect your story to match mine – either past, present or future – because if it did, that would be incredibly boring and if you had a brother everyone called “Tank” that would just be weird.

I use my blog to share parts and pieces of my story. I’ve shared some things from my past and I share often about the present {usually about my kids}. Sometimes, when I am feeling hopeful, I may share about what I hope for the future. All in all, I hope you enjoy the writings I leave you in my little piece of the internet world.

Today, enjoy your story because it is uniquely yours.
Oh, and if you missed the post from Monday, just a few days left to get in on that Cultivate What Matters 2021 Powersheets Planner!

until next time dear reader…

Current Goals :: October Edition

October 26, 2020 by Michelle Filed Under: Planning 3 Comments

This really is one of my favorite topics to write about because it gives me the opportunity to see how I’m doing with my monthly goals and to ask what you’re working towards or have accomplished this month!

First off, if you didn’t read my post last month about the goals I was working towards, you didn’t get to hear me gush over the Cultivate What Matters planner I had started using. It helps you “uncover what truly matters to you and helps you do something about it.” I felt like I was often just flying by the seat of my pants in getting things done both around my home, with my kids/husband/friends and with our work. Not to say I might could have figured some of these things on my own – with many months of trial and error, buy why recreate that wheel when it was already at my fingertips?!

Enter PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner.

Each month I sit down and determine my goals for the month, which for this month are as follows:

  • Pay extra on car payment – CHECK! {we actually paid it off this month! One year ahead of schedule!}
  • Plan at least two dates with Andrew – CHECK!
    • a weekly action item is to schedule date nights with a babysitter
  • Plan at least five friend dates – CHECK!
    • a weekly action item is to check in with friends via text or call
  • Write at least two blog posts – CHECK!
  • Look at our upcoming trips {we have two in the next couple of months} and determine what steps need to be taken
    • then I add to my weekly list if there’s something specific to be done, ie: book a hotel room, flight, etc.

Some of these things may be trivial to you, like the date nights and friend dates, but I am so all-over-the-place, that if I am not intentional about it, weeks or even months go by without doing those things. And after feeling really sad about my reality for weeks on end, I decided to start doing something about it. I want my marriage to thrive and in order for that to happen Andrew and I have to step away from our kids and our business. I want the relationships with my friends to thrive and not just be surface-level and in order for that to happen, I have to spend time cultivating them.

To help you accomplish your goals, you are tasked with a Tending List where you write your monthly goals and then determine weekly and daily action items/habits. A few of the weekly items not listed above are:

  • Sunday: schedule work time and task list – this helps me look at my upcoming week and determine when I’m working for our business vs shuffling kids around vs doing household work
  • Pick up house, vacuum, mop and wipe down counters – this helps me keep my house tidy, otherwise the daily droppings of my kids would overwhelm me

Daily action items are:

  • Post scripture on social media 🙂 – this is something I do for my personal account and for the women’s ministry at my church
  • Bible study – if I’m not intentional about my time with the Lord, I can be lazy or push it off to “later” and then it doesn’t happen
  • No spending {I won’t confess to you how many days I’ve not been able to accomplish this}
  • No sugar {pleading the 5th here…}

Next month’s goals will include the upcoming holidays and their preparation along with some of the current goals. I have to say that I’m really excited about the things coming up next month and December. This is my favorite time of year and COVID will NOT hold my joy down.

I would love to know what your goals are, how you’re keeping track of them and with ones you’ll hit this month! Also, if you’ve made it to the end of this post, thank you for reading! You really have no idea how much it means to me that you read my writings. To one special reader I am going to gift a Cultivate What Matters 2021 Powersheets Planner. Do you want to be that ONE!? If so, comment here on this blog one goal you would set for 2021 and why. I will choose a winner by this Friday, 10/30/20 at 10am and announce in that day’s blog post! Feel free to share this with your friends, especially someone that would LOVE a Powersheets Planner!

Best of luck and until next time thanks for reading <3

Grateful & Good Things

October 21, 2020 by Michelle Filed Under: Being a Mom, Friendship, Life Leave a Comment

Can I first admit to you that I never dreamed the traction Monday’s post about Hair Dye, Botox and Lip Filler would generate?! You ladies are enthusiastic about staving off the wrinkles, gray hair and deflated lips. haha
But seriously, it was fun to read all the comments posted on FaceBook about who does what, etc. I’m not quite brave enough to do anything besides coloring my hair but you bet I’ll share here when I do!

So, today is Wednesday and while I don’t have really anything earth-shattering to share, I did want to encourage you to think on something or someone for which you are grateful today. Andrew and I have tried {sometimes we forget} to ask our kids at the dinner table each night to tell us either something that they’re grateful for or something good that happened to them, that day.

Kids are funny. Sometimes they squinch their noses and “uhhhhhh” for about an eternity, but finally they’ll give up an answer. And that answer usually sparks some sort of good/funny/interesting conversation at the table. It’s also something besides that blah question, “How was school today?”

I invite you to use this tonight, wherever you are and even if you don’t have anyone to say it out-loud to – I’m happy to listen! – acknowledge something you’re thankful for, or something good that happened to you today.

I’ll start by saying I’m thankful for my friend Sheri AND the good thing is that I got to see her for the first time today since February! We met for a walk this afternoon and got to start our catch-up conversation. She noted that we’re only about 1/3 of the way through our catch-up when we got back to our cars….there’s so much to talk about! Hopefully we won’t have to wait so long to have the rest of our catch-up conversation 🙂

Enjoy sharing your grateful and good thing moments tonight!

Until next time…

Hair Dye, Botox and Lip Filler

October 19, 2020 by Michelle Filed Under: Life Leave a Comment

“Silver hair and wrinkles are earned.”

This morning I was early for my hair appointment, so I sat in my car reading a book that I recently started: Becoming Myself by Stasi Eldredge. I was reading a section where the author talked about being at a church luncheon and seeing these older women – 90-year-old women – that were “stunning”. “No Botox or lip filler or liposuction could erase their years.” And while I got the point she was driving at – one’s inner beauty speaks more loudly than one’s outer appearance and of course I want that to be true about myself, don’t you? I couldn’t help but ponder the Botox and lip filler part…

I sent a text to my friend Ann a few weeks ago {I’ve never asked her if she is bothered by the fact that I often cite our conversations…} with a photo of me pursing my lips and asking her what to do about the wrinkles I’ve noticed appearing around them. First she said, “well…stop making that face.”
Thanks mom….
That was maybe the first day that I thought about needing a lip filler. And if I’m honest, I don’t even know what lip fillers are or do… Don’t you judge me. I don’t know these things! Is there something we do about this? Please give me all your tips.

I also have these super harsh lines on my forehead that are becoming more pronounced. Anyone else or is it just me? Why do I raise my eyebrows ALL THE TIME? This is something I cannot force myself to stop. It was inherited. My mother did it often, with her big blue eyes bulging at me 🙂 #Botox cannot be my only option…

Anyway, I read my book and got to that line above about silver hair and wrinkles being earned. I was literally about to walk in the salon’s door to cover up all my silver. And y’all, I have a LOT of silver happening on my head these days. I am convinced if I didn’t color my hair it would be white. I teased Andrew back during the quarantine about letting it all just ‘go’ and he directly said to me “I’m not ready for that.” LOL. I’m not either if I’m completely honest.

The Lord has certainly brought me through my fair share of trials in my short 40 years on this earth; I have definitely earned my silver hair and wrinkles. And today I’m wondering what you think about dyeing hair and Botox and lip fillers…do we embrace the silver hair and wrinkles or do we cover those up just a little longer?

Girl-giggling with you…

Friday Favorites

October 16, 2020 by Michelle Filed Under: Friday Favorites Leave a Comment

Once a month I’m going to do a Friday Favorites post of my favorite things. Today’s is the first of many Friday Favorites and I’m so excited to share with you some of my current favorites!

First off is EverBe Cosmetics. I was introduced to EverBe through the IF: Lead conference I did this summer – I got a sample of their pencil eyeliner and it is amazing, I just ordered a new one for when this one runs out! I have also fallen in love with their lip butter – side note, the Lip Butter Package {3 lip butters shown below} is currently on sale!
Their message: EverBe is a reminder that whatever we face in this life, good or bad, we will EverBe His – never alone and never separated from the Creator. 

Next is dvtd. If you were a Premier Jewelry fan, they have upped the ante and rolled into a one-stop-shop, with 25 brands currently on their platform. With dvtd, you’re bound to find something! AND they just launched their holiday season of giving! Check out their products here and let me know which brand/product is your favorite!

If you know me at all, you know I’m a planner. I love to know what’s coming next, when, what’s needed, etc. So this next favorite is from Cultivate What Matters. For years I’ve lived my life by a planner – anyone else? Since moving more into the digital age, I use my Google calendar to keep track of my day-to-day appointments, but the idea of having a tangible option really captures me. So when I discovered this Goal Planner, again from the IF: Lead conference I did this summer, I was hooked. Beautifully created for a stay-at-home mom to the woman slaying Wall Street and everything in between! Figure out your goals for the year with help, own them and then take the steps to make things happen. It’s so fulfilling and the 2021 planners were just released this week!

Next on my list is ColorStreet. My sister-in-love introduced me to CS just a few months ago and I have to confess that my collection {it’s not an obsession, it’s a collection} has grown…slightly out of control. Ha.

I love to have my nails done and when COVID shut the world down, ColorStreet became the saving grace for so many women that enjoyed having her nails done. If you’ve never tried it, my sister-in-law will send you a sample – just message me. Or, if you want to jump all in, go for it! You’ll love it. Oh, and it’s great for little fingers too. My daughter has her own ColorStreet collection 🙂

Last but certainly not least in this Friday Favorites post is Matilda Jane. Y’all, I swoon when the new dresses are released! And this month is pajama month! I want them all, but limited myself to just the mommy/daughter set. Yes, they have that!
Eliza Jane, from a very early age, has loved the dresses because doesn’t every little girl {and big girl!} love to twirl!? I know when I put on a flowy dress, I twirl too! So if you’re looking for something pretty for yourself, your teen, tween, girl or baby, Matilda Jane’s got you covered….literally.

I am excited to start this monthly series for you…and not every month will be shopping links. I chose to share shopping links in this first post because I’m so excited about the products and many of them are on sale right now! Happy shopping!

until next time…

The “I Forgot My Clothes” Post

October 14, 2020 by Michelle Filed Under: Life Leave a Comment

Apparently 62% of Americans over-pack their suitcases when they travel, according to an article put out by Nordstrom. I was not of that 62% last weekend when we made our trek up to Kentucky. Nope, I was in the other 38% of people who, I guess like me, forget their clothes for their trip.

Yep, you read that right. About 45 minutes from our Kentucky hotel last Thursday afternoon, I looked at Andrew and said, “Did you happen to grab my tops that were hanging in the closet doorway”. Silence….
It was one of those moments where he looks like “uh-oh” and I just laughed. I mean, it wasn’t like we were going to turn AROUND and drive 7.5 hrs back home for two tops on hangers. That’s ludicrous.

“Well, I guess I’ll get to go shopping when we get there!” I announced happily. I think Andrew thought this was some sort of wicked plan plotted against him and DJ. To leave the kids with them so Dana and I could go shopping. mwahahaha.

We checked into our hotel and promptly changed the kids into their swim suits so they could play in the indoor pool with daddy supervision while the mommas went shopping.

Guess where we went? Target of course! It was literally a stone’s throw from our hotel, thank you Jesus.

It was cheetah-everything! I found the swimsuit {far right} on clearance – and it’s MUCH cuter on your person than on the hanger. And that pink top is ah-dorable. The dress in the back is still up for debate but it was on clearance too. I got one other top that’s not in this photo, but you’ll see it below in the picture with Dana from Sat.

This top above is fall perfection. It’s a light sweatshirt material, structured with a poofy sleeve…I need this top in about five other patterns.

It was slightly cooler on Saturday so I got this light long sleeved option with flowy sleeve.

For having forgotten my clothes, I think I did pretty good. My friend Ann saw some of my posts, called me and said, “Where did you find a boutique to go shopping!?” #targetforthewin.

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