Find Out Who Your Friends Are

. . . That's What Friends Are For

The Washington Post calls Five Guys Burgers & Fries "the Willy Wonkas of burgercraft." Well then . . . “come with me, and you’ll see. It’s a world of . . . “ epicurean pleasure. And that is just what my dear Milly did. I met Milly (Sanders) at Five Guys last week for a gluttonous adventure. And honey, it did not disappoint.

However, the topic on the menu for discussion – Gossip (audible groan) – was, unfortunately, not as appetizing as the cheeseburgers. I’ll tell you what, just when you think high school is so last millenium, here come the mean girls. And which of them is worse? She who fabricates the story or she who eagerly passes it along? I don’t have the stomach for either of them – a bit of pity though. Jealousy is such a pitiful girl.

Much to my surprise, a Rumor was the answer to my woes – Rumor Boutique that is. I popped in for a little retail therapy and left with an “Olho de Boi” seed necklace. One of the oldest superstitions in Brazil, the seed is believed to protect its carrier from “evil eye” or jealousy. Boy do I ever need that. And I even left a few things behind for all of you. Earrings, a precious clutch, and dresses from BCBG, Eva Franco & Envi (I know – too hilaroius!)

But as it turns out, I didn’t need the necklace at all this weekend. The YaYas (five girls that I have been friends with since I was four years old) came to town! We met up on Thursday at the Simmons to meet Baby Florence. She was perfect, just perfect. I held her . . . twice (not afraid to bogart a baby) and I fed her and, to be quite honest, I fell slap dab in love with Mrs. Dupuy’s itty bitty bundle of beauty. Florence Virginia Dupuy met the girls who love her Mommy in style . . . and with some of the most breathtaking peonies I have ever seen.

Friday night I met the girls for dinner at Taylormade Grill. Boys allowed this time: Josh (Loyd), Kent (Tucker) & Derek (Culp) were there too. And, while devouring the blueberry laden pork chop that made me want to pick the bone up and gnaw on it, I was overwhelmed by how lucky I am. There is something so very magical about being surrounded by the people who know you better than anyone else . . . at times even better then you know yourself.

If you want to know something about me, ask them. If you want to say something about me, watch out for them. Beth (Tucker), who is in many ways the heart of our group, once wrote this about me: “Ashley Smith is probably the funniest human being I have ever met. She is fiercely loyal to those that she loves, and knows how to be a true friend.” My cup runneth over.

The rest of the holiday was dreamy as well. Highlights included one trip out to the Farmer’s Market and another to Elliott Farms.

The Farmer’s Market was in full swing. God bless precious Tommy Irvin – and any other cowboy boot & suit wearing man for that matter. I get giddy just thinking about it. The bag of peaches that I bought would later meet up with New Year’s Eve champagne and big red raspberries to become fresh Bellinis that were the perfect companion to the gorgeous sun that you couldn’t help but soak up.

Monday morning Amy (Hellis) and I packed up the petites and headed out to Elliott Farms. Little Jozi was too cute for words. Charley, Sydney and Rosalee picked more strawberries than any of us could possibly eat. And I followed the peacock around in a hard-headed attempt to photograph the divine creature.

The long weekend ended with a glass of wine, true blue friends - Amy (Hellis) & Joellen (Spivey) and some much needed trash t.v. Denise Richards, It’s Complicated did not disappoint. Unfortunately (especially for the drones of Wild Things pool scene fans) another acting career may fall victim to Reality Television but I am going to enjoy absolutely every minute of it.

As for me – stay tuned . . .

aS

Hot This Week!

Wednesday, The City Club

(Steve Jukes & Mike Ford bartend. Non-members invited . . . DO NOT MISS!)

Friday, Sex & The City

Step Right Up, Get Your Tickets Before They Sell Out . . .

Chastain Park: Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Thursday, July 10th @ 8pm. Eat your heart out . . . I HAVE TICKETS!

The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia

... Speaking of Sex and the City, Mee-Yow!

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Holy hotness . . . did you see the blue eyes on that hunk-a, hunk-a burnin’ love? Ooh-my-goodness! Okay, okay - I'll start at the beginning.

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A couple of weeks ago I got a text from someone at 13WMAZ with Justin Cave (host of HGTV’s Groundbreakers) that suggested I tune in to the interview.

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I texted back . . . “nice interview – I don’t think I learned anything new but he sure is yummy."
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And apparently I wasn’t the only little girl who thought so. The interns who worked the Community Event he was in town for all but threw punches and pulled hair to get next to him. I even heard one of them come up behind him and say (as she reached for his mic) “I’m going to turn you on, so don’t say anything dirty” with all the come-hither that she could muster. Well I never!
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Anyhoo . . . he is definitely a true dreamboat. Looks aside, he enjoys a dancing in a fountain just as much as myself and thinks that gummy worms are delish.

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The highlight of our brief time together would have to be when he looked deep into my Chanel sunglasses and said those three little words that EVERY girl loves to hear . . . “want a massage” . . . which would make the low-point of the day that he then led me back to a couple of chair massage stations set up under the escalator. Don’t they say it’s the thought that counts?  Well "they" are wrong.
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And then it happened – the night the lights went out in Georgia. The big bad wolf blew through town and I was awoken by the sirens at about 4:30. I watched the trees bending over and the traffic lights swinging like paper lanterns, keenly electrified by my unusual fascination with storms.

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Much to my surprise, Vista Circle had power, water, cable, and not so much as a branch in the yard. Much to my friend  Amy’s surprise – and chagrin - they had none of the above. So they packed it up and came to stay at the Vista Circle Bed & Breakfast. As Amy put little Charley to sleep she said so sweetly “Momma this is like sleeping on Marshmallow Fluff.”
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Well I just never even knew that Bed-Making was one of my talents. And I’m not one to bogart the information so here is the recipe for those of you who want to make their own Marshmallow Fluff Bed:

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Start with a Simmons Deep Sleep Mattress and add a layer of feather mattress. Wrap both in Pure Beech sheets and top with a little Ralph Lauren. Then enjoy as you choose 3 cards from a deck of Sweet Dreams, 36 Bedtime Wishes to tuck into your pillow and read Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots or Make Way For The Ducklings.
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I also stumbled upon another recipe that I want to pass along. It reminded me of something that Kathy Simmons says . . . “Pretty is as pretty does.”

Time Tested Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child
run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things,
have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,
and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands,
one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
because that is the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
the passion that she shows,
and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

--Sam Levenson

Sam wrote "Time Tested Beauty Tips" for his grandchild, and it just so happened to become one of Audrey Hepburn’s favorite poems. In fact, the poem was even mis-attributed to her, after it was known that she liked it and had read it to her children.
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A super hot man, a marshmallow fluff bed and a recipe for true beauty. As you can tell - I am ready for Miz Bradshaw and her friends to COLOR ME HAPPY. That's right ladies and gentlemen, We are one week and two days from Sex And The City euphoria.
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And Toast is talkin' bout a little Group "Sex" for the Movie's April 30th Premier . . . so just let us know if you want in on some of that action.

aS

Hot This Week!

A Few Good Men

Rumor Boutique's Jewelry Trunk Show

Step Right Up, Get Your Tickets Before They Sell Out . . .

Chastain Park: Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Thursday, July 10th @ 8pm. Eat your heart out . . . I HAVE TICKETS!

What Does Your Heart Beat For?

. . . A Mother's Heart

As Mother's Day approaches, I find myself filled with nostalgia and reminiscence of an enchanted childhood that holds such special memories.

I can still remember what her fingers felt like in my hair, weaving beautiful french braids that she would adorn with flowers. I remember that she always had my artwork professionally framed and how it hung proudly on our walls. I remember the hand-smocked dresses that I wore to school. I remember how she painted a giant bonnet-wearing goose on plywood that would become my headboard & "protector." And I remember how she taught me to sign my name - a talent for which I still receive accolades.

I will hold these memories especially close to me on this particular Mother's day - as is often the case when those that we love experience a loss. I face Sunday with a heavy heart. One friend has lost his mother, and another has lost her little baby. Which makes wondering what I'll ever do to comfort them more pressing than which book or perfume I should buy for my own mother. In fact, I've never been quite so aware of how much she might appreciate the simple sentences above much more than either.

I have also never been more acutely aware of the fact that a "holiday" isn't always just that to everyone. I remember the story of Allie & Holden Caulfield. I remember how their story taught me that you don't stop loving someone just because they die. And I remember another story that I want to share with all of you.

A Mother's story.

It’s a simple story. The story of a four-year-old little boy whose next door neighbor had suffered the loss of his wife and soul mate. I don’t know the little boy’s name but I do know that his mother must have been proud and that his story taught me so much about how to really be there for someone.

On that sad day, as his neighbor sat on the porch next door, the little one wandered over and climbed upon his lap to sit with him for quite some time. And later on, when he returned home, his mother asked him what he had said to the man. So he told her . . . “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

aS

Hot This Week!

The Medical Center of Central Georgia's AT THE HEART OF LIFE Community Festival. Saturday, May 10th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new Albert Luce, Jr. Heart Institute. Health Screenings and Community Event. Bring the kids! The event is open to the public.

Step Right Up, Get Your Tickets Before They Sell Out . . .

Chastain Park: Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Thursday, July 10th @ 8pm Be forewarned . . . I will do just about anything to get tickets to this show.