A friend of ours sent me a link to this video last night, and I clapped with delight when I watched it. Perfection.

It makes me want to buy lots and lots of flip flops.

While performing some kicky choreographed dance moves.

Well.

We are still working on the podcasting thing.

But yesterday you may have noticed that Melanie’s blog exploded.

Fortunately, it was only a temporary explosion, and it’s all fixed now. But because of the blog explosion as well as a few extended family sit’yations, we’re running behind on our podcasting schedule.

We are nothing if not predictable.

So, in the meantime, I thought I’d share a list of some products I’ve been enjoying this summer. Or I guess I should say this spring and summer. Seeing as how summer is only a couple of days old.

1. Neutrogena Sport Face SPF 70+

Melanie actually told me about this sunscreen last summer, and I love it so much. It doesn’t sting, doesn’t feel heavy, and it works great. Hands-down it’s the best sunblock for faces that I’ve used. Love, The Girl Who Doesn’t Tan

2. Post Great Grains – Crunchy Pecans

Almost every summer I get on a cereal kick. I picked up a box of Post Great Grains when it was on sale at Publix, and oh my goodness – it’s delicious. I picked Crunchy Pecans because it has the least amount of sugar, and I am a fan. If you like granola, you’ll like this cereal.

3. Big Buddha JCourtny Bag

I think this purse is so sassy, but do you know what’s even sassier? Finding said sassy purse in TJMaxx for $39.99. YES MA’AM. The TJMaxx version isn’t exactly like the one on the website, but that’s fine by me because THIRTY NINE NINETY NINE.

4. Free Kindle Reading Apps

Even though I don’t have a Kindle (or a Nook), I love that the Kindle app enables me to read books on my computer or phone – and check out books from the library, too. It’s a mighty fine work-around for someone who doesn’t have a dedicated e-reader.

5. Voluspa Goji Tarocco Orange Candle

I know that I’ve mentioned this particular candle before, and here I am mentioning it again. But that’s only because I feel so very strongly that it is fact the very essence of delightfulness. It will make your house smell great (unless you have a 15,000 square foot house, in which case you might want to buy 5 or 6 of them), and you’ll be totally addicted in no time at all.

Hope y’all have / are having / continue to have a great weekend!

I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of anything so consistently and comically doomed as trying to podcast with Melanie. It really does beat anything I’ve ever seen. Over the last couple of years it’s been especially bad, and every single time we try to record one we run into software problems, WiFi issues, computer glitches, and some old-fashioned human error thrown in for good measure.

Keeping Mel’s computer connected during a Skype or iChat call has been the biggest challenge lately, and we assumed that had something to do with her router because we are very technical and moonlight at the Genius Bar during our spare time (side note: I do not know what a router does, and for all I know they’ve been obsolete since the Clinton administration). However, a few months ago Melanie realized that she could use her desktop computer and stay connected during a call JUST FINE, and we were as tickled as we could be to have discovered a work-around.

So we tried to record a podcast sometime back in March. But by that point I had a new computer, and I couldn’t get the recording software that we’ve always used to cooperate. It wouldn’t recognize my serial / voter identification / social security / frequent shopper number, so we were back to square one.

We’ve spent A LOT of time hanging out at square one over the last two and a half years. And I believe the term you’re looking for is TECHNICALLY CHALLENGED.

But yesterday Mel and I were feeling optimistic, so we decided to try again. I thought I could record straight into Garage Band because I *know* I’ve done that before, but after a few test runs, there was an ongoing issue of not being able to record a single word that Melanie uttered. Which is problematic when recording a podcast. So I went to the Google and downloaded some things and then changed some settings and then crossed my arms and blinked my eyes and screamed “SHAZAM!” while wearing a big, red cape, but I still couldn’t record Melanie’s voice.

And then I may have eaten about four Hershey’s Kisses.

Eventually Melanie and I gave up because that’s pretty much how both of us operate. Neither one of us is what I would call “persistent” in the presence of technical difficulties; we tend to land in the camp of “FINE. FORGET IT. NEVER MIND.” But for whatever reason, I decided yesterday that I was sick and tired of the podcast being such a source of frustration, so I googled some more and changed some settings and didn’t even scream “SHAZAM!” and I’ll be doggone if that old recording software didn’t decide to start working again. LIKE A CHARM.

So all that to say: Mel and I are going to try to podcast again tomorrow. All the recording stuff is working. Skype connections are stable. All systems point to “go.” Which means that there will probably be a freak electrical storm in either San Antonio or Birmingham and one of us will lose power.

(To be clear: I hope not.)

(But make no mistake: it is always a technological train wreck.)

Fingers crossed, though, that tomorrow afternoon finds us recording with ease as we discuss Very Important Matters like our favorite moisturizers, the best jeans, and our short- and long-term hair goals for Summer ’12.

WE’LL SEE.

I am cautiously optimistic.

So over a year ago, in April of 2011, I was folding clothes in the guest room (in case you didn’t know, I consider our guest room bed a gigantic drawer for clean clothes, and occasionally that drawer gets a little out of control), and out of nowhere, a book title popped in my head.

Well, it wasn’t an actual book title. It was an old Southern expression that I thought might be a possible book title. Granted, it seemed totally ridiculous that I was even contemplating book titles considering that I had no plans to write a book and had never even had an idea for a book. Plus, I’m not a dreamer, I’m not a goal-setter, and I’m terrified of rejection. So it didn’t require much of a mental leap to conclude that my self-doubt and I were not exactly on the fast track for publication.

But the title stuck with me as I finished folding clothes, and I texted it to myself so that I wouldn’t forget it. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there might be something I could do with it.

Well.

Last fall there were some very unexpected developments, and in February I signed a contract to write a book for Tyndale. I was thrilled to pieces for approximately twelve hours, at which point I realized that OH SWEET MERCY I HAVE TO WRITE ALL THE WORDS NOW.

And there may have been a little bit of panic at that juncture.

But this past Saturday night, around 9:20 in the PM, I finished the first draft of the book while I was sitting at my kitchen table. David and Alex were in the kitchen with me, and oh, it was a happy moment. They have been so supportive and encouraging throughout this whole process – y’all have no idea. I don’t know how I can ever repay them, but I’m going to start with lots of ice cream and also fried chicken.

The book is a collection of personal essays (that sounds fancy, but I think you know me well enough to know that the book is most definitely not fancy) about the joy of the day-to-day. It’s about the South and faith and family and food and how faithful God is to meet us in the middle of our seemingly ordinary circumstances. And while I never expected to say this, I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun I had writing it. It was one of the biggest blasts of my whole life. No kidding.

And by the way, the book really is called A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet. That makes me so happy. It wasn’t the title that we had on the proposal, but a few weeks after I signed my contract, I emailed my sweet editor and said, Okay. There’s this title that came to me last year when I was folding laundry. And I can’t let it go. She immediately wrote me back and said that she loved it. And then I put my head down on my desk, and I cried.

Actually, I sobbed. But we’ll pretend it was all very feminine and dainty and delicate.

ANYWAY, thanks so much for your patience with me over the last six months or so. It’s been a hectic time, but it’s been a wonderful time. I am unspeakably grateful.

And now? Oh, listen. I AM GOING TO WATCH SO MUCH TV.

I’m also going to sample new snack crackers, and I’m going to try to make Alex laugh at least once an hour because his laugh is pretty much my favorite sound in the world right now, and I’m going to paint my dining room, and I’m going to visit with my friends, and I’m going to go out to dinner with my husband and remind him at least every ten minutes to please notice how carefree and not stressed out I am.

And then, after I’ve frolicked in the land of no deadlines for awhile, I’ll tackle the first round of edits.

(HOLD ME.)

Love y’all!

The other night I was on the Twitter, and Veronica mentioned that she was enjoying some music by Indelible Grace. The name rang a bell – I think a few of y’all have also recommended their CDs – so I made a beeline for the iTunes. I ended up buying their album called The Hymn Sing.

Well.

I’m sure the whole CD is excellent, but I really wouldn’t know yet because I cannot quit listening to the very first song.

As my friend Elise always says: If that don’t light your fire, your wood’s wet.

Amen.

I know. I normally do the whole favorites thing on Friday. But when I was doing some writing at Starbucks earlier tonight (1,000 words to go, oh hallelujah), I looked on the Twitter and found out that I’d better GIDDY UP, GUSSY – STORM’S-A-COMIN’. So now I’m home and hanging out in the guest room with all my people until said storm passes.

You know, I think I can speak for Alabama and say that we would love to have a pass on severe weather for a while. The rain is fantastic, but the straight line winds and tornados can be a little pesky.

Anyway. Favorites. Here we go.

– I made this tilapia recipe for supper tonight, and it was absolutely delicious. Everybody loved it. And it’s super-simple, too, which is always a plus. Yay, Pinterest, for the find.

– Speaking of Pinterest, this made me laugh.

– My friend Shaun has written an e-book called In The Sky – And Other Big Lessons From Little People.

Shaun has a way of seeing the sacred in the ordinary – and communicating it in an absolutely beautiful way. It’s exciting to see him step out and share his words in a different format.

– Summer reading is in full force around here, and Justin Case: School, Drool, & Other Daily Disasters has been an early favorite with the little man. So has Wonkenstein (The Creature from My Closet) and The Name of This Book Is Secret.

– Last week I ordered some earrings from Noonday Collection, and today, when the package arrived in the mail, I opened it and swooned.

I love a purchase with a greater good.

– About a week ago Melanie and I had our first conference call with the LifeWay team about this year’s dotMOM Conference, and oh, we cannot wait. Mel and I will be emceeing / wearing those sassy microphones that go over the ear / trying to appear composed again this year, and we would love to see you there!

All righty. The bad weather has passed, and the boy is in bed. So I am now free and clear to watch The Bachelorette and listen to Emily say “Thank yewwwww” two or forty-five times. It makes me so happy.

Happy Monday, everybody!