Becoming a Girly Girl

I'm Outta Here!

2011-11-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

I have made the decision to leave Blogger.

But don't be sad. Turn that frown upside down. I may be leaving Blogger, but I am not leaving the blogging world.

I am simply heading on over to Wordpress.

Blogger was great for a while, but I have to move on, grow up, expand my blogging skills. This means that things are only looking up from here. It was nice working with you Blogger, but I am outta here!!

Here is the link where you can find me: http://becomingagirlygirl.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/hello-world/

If You Need Me, You Know Where to Find Me

2011-10-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

If you need me this weekend, you can find me in one place and one place only...Salisbury, North Carolina.

I'm heading back to good ole Cat-U.

It's homecoming ya'll!

It is time for my first Catawba College homecoming as an alumni. I have been looking forward to this day since graduation, and it has finally arrived.

Past homecomings have been some of the best weekends of my life.

I am hoping that this weekend will be even better! I have missed all of my Catawba lovers so badly, and cannot wait for a whole weekend of fun with them.

Not to mention that this lovely lady will be in town :)

That's right. Erin and Emily will finally be reunited. I have not seen her since last year's homecoming. It has been WAY too long. Catawba's campus better watch out, because when we get together, you never know what is going to happen.

Now don't worry girly girls, I wouldn't write this post without giving you something wonderfully girly to be excited about. So here it is---> I have two new dresses to wear this weekend! One of them is one shoulder (oh yeah Aly Halter, I found one!). I have been searching for the perfect one-shoulder dress, and I managed to find one just in time.

Exciting right??

AND there is more good news! Remember Zandi Watts from my older posts? You know, my suite mate that always did my hair and makeup. She will be there to help me look beautiful all weekend long. It is like a dream come true.

Anyway, I hope that all of you have a lovely weekend. If you need me, I will be at Catawba College wearing one of my new dresses and looking ridiculously girly. If you are lucky, I just might come back with some pictures for you!

Television Tuesdays: Hart of Dixie

2011-10-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

I love television. I honestly do not know what I would do without it to keep me entertained on rainy days like today. There are so many shows that I want to watch lately, it is almost stressful to try to get them all recorded. My weeknights are full of dramas, comedies, and reality shows. I am thrown into a land of fantasy, where problems can be solved in an hour and everyone is attractive.

I have decided I will set aside a day to blog about some of my favorite television shows. From now on, Tuesdays will be strictly for blog posts about shows that I love. Welcome to your very first Television Tuesdays post...I know you are just as excited as I am.

For my first Television Tuesday, I want to talk about one of my new favorite shows, Hart of Dixie.

The show revolves around Dr. Zoe Hart, played by Rachel Bilson, who you might recognize from The OC. Zoe graduated at the top of her class in medical school and dreams of following in her father's footsteps to become a cardio-thoracic surgeon in New York. However, through a series of unfortunate events (which is also a good movie by the way) Zoe accepts an offer from a stranger, Dr. Harley Wilkes, to work at his practice and finds herself in Bluebell, Alabama.

Upon arriving in Bluebell, Zoe realizes that this southern town is a far cry from the big city where she grew up. To her surprise, Dr. Wilkes has passed away and left his half of the medical practice to Zoe. This medical professional soon realizes that she is up against some big odds when she meets the other doctor in town, Dr. Breeland. He is not very enthusiastic about having to share his practice, and wants to do anything possible to make her give up and go back to where she came from. His daughter, Lemon Breeland, makes Zoe's life even more unbearable with her jealousy and conniving ways.

Through a couple of emergencies and bad judgements, Zoe decides the only way that the citizens of Bluebell will trust her is if she associates with them and tries to learn about their southern roots and traditions.

Not only does the show keep you rooting for Zoe, it also gives you girly girls out there a little eye candy. Scott Porter, who you may have seen in the television series Friday Night Lights, plays George Tucker. He is Dr. Breeland's lawyer and Lemon Breeland's fiance. He is constantly being scrutinized for being nice to the new lady doctor in town, but for some reason he is continuously drawn to her.

Then there is Wade Kinsella, played by Wilson Bethel. He is Zoe's neighbor and has that bad, southern boy charm. That charm has Zoe spending some quality time with him in his car during the first episode.

The shows airs every Monday at 9:00 pm on the CW. Tune in for some laughs, alligators, gumbo, snakes, hunting, and some good ole southern hospitality. I have uploaded the trailer below, check it out.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-10-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

October.

The month of leaves falling, football, fall festivals, pumpkins and Halloween. When most people think of October they think of candy, costumes, and tailgating. However, it is also a month to think about breasts.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, "Each year it is estimated that nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die."

Every October, cancer charities hold a health campaign to increase awareness of this disease and to raise money for research on finding a cure. If you are wanting to get involved, then this is definitely the month to do it.

Today I wanted to share with you some of the ways that all of you girly girls, and you manly men, can get involved in the fight for the cure. We have to help protect our breasts. Like I said in a previous blog post...The world would be a much sadder place without them.

First of all, there is always the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events. These are a series of 5k runs and walks that raise huge amounts of money, provide awareness, and honor survivors and those that lost their battles with the disease. In 2010, the St. Louis race had over 71,800 participants making it the largest race ever. For information on races near you, check out their website.

I also found this delightful website called The Pink Ribbon Shop. They have almost any kind of pink ribbon wear that you could imagine and have donated over $27,000 to different breast cancer charities. They also have some pretty cute work out gear, for all of you that enjoy your time at the gym. Perfect to gear up for your race for the cure.

The last thing that I found is very cool. This organization is called Bikers Battling Breast Cancer. They have events like Boobapalooza and Bikers for Boobs. It was founded in an effort to gain the support of the motorcycle community and raise funds for the cause. They have raised $350,000 for local breast health programs. Please take a look at their website.

Students can also get their schools involved in the search for a cure. Last year, the Catawba College SGA raised money by selling these super cute shirts designed by Zandi Watts at a basketball game.

If you are unable to participate in any of these events, or you don't have the money to buy any breast cancer merchandise, then you can always just wear pink. Girly girls love pink. I know it is one of my favorite colors. I also have to admit, one of my favorite things about this time of year is seeing those giant football players rocking the pink socks. That brings a smile to my face.

Real Women Have Curves

2011-10-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

I have one goal.

Well actually, I have quite a few goals. They include finding a job, moving out of my parent's house, and everything that goes with becoming a grown up. However, the goal that I am writing about today is a goal that girly girls have been trying to meet since the beginning of time.

I want to get skinny. More importantly, I want to get in shape.

This is obviously not me.

In an attempt to work off some extra poundage, and to feel better about ourselves, my momma and I joined Curves. This is a huge move for me, because I have never been a member of a gym before. My momma was a member many years ago and lost 20 pounds working out there after she had my little brother. So one day in August we jumped in the car and headed over to Curves in Siler City to sign up.

Curves is unique because it is only for women. It is for this reason that I enjoy working out there. I have no need to feel paranoid about huge muscle men thinking I am weak, or about creepy men that stare. I feel so much more comfortable during my work out because I don't have to worry about any members of the opposite sex.

This gym is the world's leader in women's fitness. The program is specifically designed for women. The machines target those problem areas that plague us females, like our thighs and stomachs.

Another perk is that the workout program offered easily fits into a busy schedule. It only takes 30 minutes to complete the circuit of machines. This is perfect since I work in tobacco with my family all day, and have little time to exercise.

The Curves Smart workout is also designed to keep women motivated to continue working out. When you join the gym, they take your measurements and your weight. Your measurements are then plugged into a computer system and you get your own key. There is a place in each of the machines to place your key. The machine computes how hard you are working and determines if you are meeting your goals. You are told to "Go for Green" because if the screen on the machine turns yellow, that means you are not working hard enough. I always try to keep the screen green, but sometimes I have a little yellow show up.

You weigh in and get measured once a month to track your progress. At my last weigh in, I had lost 3 pounds and 3 inches in my stomach. I was very excited. I am hoping that the next weigh in will have even better results.

Curves prides itself on motivating women. One of my favorite things about the gym, besides the lack of testosterone, is that I feel like the employees really care about me and want to see me succeed with my goals. There is always a smiling face there to greet me when I walk through the door. My name is even on the tree.

I really enjoy going to Curves. There is just something about women helping to motivate other women that makes me want to work harder. There is no yelling drill sergeant or someone standing there telling you that you are fat. It is just women that are there to support you and your fitness. I can finally say that I enjoy going to the gym. BELIEVE ME, these words have never come out of my mouth before.

I would like all of you girly girls to check out Curves if you are trying to get in shape. They have a facebook and a website. There are gym locations all over the world. If you have always wanted to work out, but have been putting it off, this is the place to start.

Now, I will leave you with two signs that are hanging up in the Curves I attend. They were so cute, I just had to share.

Rain Looks Good on You

2011-09-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

If you have looked outside the past few days, you have seen one thing and one thing only: RAIN

It was pouring.

It was raining cats and dogs.

Or in the words of my sophomore year roommate Lisa Easter "It's a monsoon!"

This week Mother Nature decided to change it up a little as she let the rain fall. It certainly was a change from the hot, dry weather that we have been experiencing all summer. It was a very nice change, and it gave girly girls everywhere the chance to break out some adorable rain gear. Gone are the days where a giant umbrella that you borrowed from your mom and a pair of tennis shoes are your only rain attire options. Rain gear has reached new levels of cute, classy, and girly.

My favorite rain gear accessory is rain boots. The first person that I ever saw wearing rain boots was my good friend Hannah Thomas. They were green with floral designs. As soon as I saw them, I knew that I had to have a pair.

Hannah and her rain boots.

Rain boots are the thing to have in women's rain fashion. They keep your feet warm and dry. They also come in handy in the snow and winter is right around the corner.

Making a snow angel

My boots came from Target. If you are searching for rain boots, this is the store that you need. They have a huge selection of boots online. I love all of the patterns and colors that they offer. I have my eye on these babies now.

A small umbrella is another must have rain accessory. An umbrella with a beautiful design that fits in your purse...what girly girl would turn that down?

Finally, the accessory that brings the whole outfit together is the rain jacket. The jacket can be whatever color or style you want, depending on your personality. Hannah has an adorably cute yellow rain jacket that I just love, and my momma has a blue one that I borrow whenever possible. I had a purple rain jacket that my Nana gave me for Christmas. It was perfect for rain or snow. Unfortunately, somewhere between graduating and moving home, it disappeared from my closet.

Luckily, I am a great online window shopper and I have already picked out what rain jacket needs to be added to my wardrobe. Check it out here. I am not sure what color I want, but I am leaning towards purple or blue. I think that this jacket would be a great addition to my rain attire, I just have to save up some money to buy it.

The sun came back out today. It has been hiding and letting the rain do its thing. However, next time the rain comes back out to play, it will not ruin any of you girly girls' day. (yeah, I just rhymed). I know that you will all be prepared with your boots, umbrellas, and jackets. Come on now, I can't be the only one who enjoys playing in the rain.

Body By Vi

2011-09-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

There is some buzz going around about a new weight loss solution. I heard the buzz and I had to investigate, so I went straight to the source of the information. His name is Eric Foust and he is an Independent Contractor of Body By Vi milkshakes.

That's right! I said milkshakes.

What is Body by Vi? According to the website, Body by Vi is "an innovative solution to getting into better shape, no matter if you want to slim down, tone up or build muscle."

If you are like every other girly girl out there, you are always looking for new and easy ways to slim down. I know that I am. This is also the perfect chance to get your main man involved. Whether your guy is already buff or needing a little work, this is a product that you can enjoy together. All of you manly men can get buff, and you girly girls can meet your weight loss goals. There are different Balance kits that cater to your personal body needs. There are many different flavors of milkshakes. So if you are worried about the taste, chances are they have the perfect flavor to please your taste buds.

You can also join the Community Challenge. This allows you to donate meals to families that are not able to provide nutritional meals for themselves. Getting fit and helping a good cause...now that is exciting!

See, he is very excited :)

I personally have not signed up to join Body By Vi...yet. Obviously, you have to pay for the program, and I cannot pay for ANYTHING at the moment. However, my aunt Lisa and cousin Katelyn have purchased some milkshakes and they are raving about how yummy they are. If you can't trust family, who can you trust right?

My advice to you, is to find out what it is all about by attending a Body By Vi challenge party. If you live around here, you should contact Eric Foust. Eric hosts these information parties. You can reach him by email at foust.eric@gmail.com or by phone at 336-215-8368. As I understand, when you attend a party you get to sample the shakes. It's like a "try before you buy." I don't know about you, but I have never been one to turn down some free milkshake...

Be sure to check out all that the Body By Vi has to provide and learn about the process at ewf519.myvi.net.

If you do call Eric, be sure to tell him that Erin Kidd sent you ;)

Super Yummy Bean Dip

2011-09-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

Who is ready for a new, easy recipe? If you like delicious and simple recipes, this one is for you.

My momma got the recipe from her coworker Paige Davis. I am not sure if the dish has a formal name, therefore I am choosing to call it Super Yummy Bean Dip. Paige must know what she is doing in the kitchen because this bean dip recipe was a hit.

Ingredients you will need:
1 red onion
Black beans
Dark Kidney Beans
Diced Tomatoes
Green chilies (These are optional, depending on how much spice you want in your life. You can purchase diced tomatoes without the green chilies.)
Sugar

Step 1: Drain the beans.

Step 2: Put the diced tomatoes into a separate bowl.

Step 3: Chop up onion.....It was on this step that my eyes began to hurt and water so much that my momma had to finish chopping up the onion for me. I know, I am a wuss.

Step 4: Mix the beans, diced tomatoes, and chopped up onion together in a bowl.

Step 5: Sprinkle in some sugar. The amount of sugar added depends on your taste buds. I have a serious sweet tooth, so I added quite a lot.

Step 5: Place the dip in the refrigerator over night.

The finished project should look like this:

At this point, you should break out your nacho chips (I prefer Tostitos Scoops) and enjoy this Super Yummy Bean Dip for yourself.

ps- I am now the owner of gold glittery Crackle Nail Polish. All of you girly girls need to stay tuned because I will be testing it out soon!

Start Your Engines

2011-09-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity...

LET'S GO RACING!

Bristol Motor Speedway

Can you guess what I have been up to? That's right! I have been watching some racing. How did you know?! :)

If you knew me growing up, you will be shocked at this post. I admit, I was never a big race fan. My family was always all about baseball, and I just didn't see what could be fun about watching cars drive around in circles. The only exciting part about it was when they wrecked. Then, I met Brandon Coble, a very dedicated race fan. He convinced me to go to a few races with him and I slowly began to understand the appeal of the sport.

Allstar race 2010

Now, don't get too excited. I have yet to figure out all the rules and I have not picked a favorite driver (I just always cheer for who Brandon wants to win). However, I have grown to like the race atmosphere. Hundreds of people gathering to support their favorite driver and celebrate a sport that was born in the South...what could be better than that?

However, I always have the same problem whenever I attend a race. What am I going to wear? I have sweated to death at Bowman Gray Stadium and I have been crying for a jacket in Richmond, Virginia. I never seem to wear the right attire.

I recently headed over to Bristol, Tennessee with Brandon to enjoy some modified cars and truck races. This time, I googled what to wear to a race, and came more prepared than ever before. Today, I am going to share with you what I believe every girly girl needs when they attend any type of race.

1. Sunglasses or a hat

It is very sunny. You will need these. You might even need to wear both at the same time.

2. A poncho or jacket.

Unexpected rain at Bowman Gray Stadium

It can and will rain or become chilly unexpectedly. You are not allowed to bring umbrellas into the race track. I learned this the hard way when the man searching bags at the gate in Bristol told me that I was not supposed to have an umbrella. Luckily, he didn't make me walk all the way back to the car to put it away :)

3. Comfortable shoes.

You will be doing a lot of walking. There is no point in wearing those cute new flats that rub your toes. Skip the pain and throw on your Rainbows or your tennis shoes.

4. A light shirt.

All of the websites I read recommended that you stick to the t-shirt. The material is lighter and it will keep you cooler. On the Bristol trip, I decided to make my white shirt a little more girly by adding an orange scarf that I borrowed from my cousin Katelyn.

Pit stop to check out the mountains

4. A bag.

I chose to use a Catawba bag that I had available in my jeep. This was much easier than digging around for my wallet or sunglasses in my huge purse.

5. Water.

You will get thirsty. You will need this. Coolers are usually allowed inside, so you can stock up and bring some in with you.

6. The final and most important thing that you need to remember before you head out on your racing adventure is MONEY.

You will need some extra cash. There are all kinds of vendors and many different concession stands. Once you smell those hotdogs and pizzas cooking, you will not be able to resist. Or, a cute hat or shirt may catch your eye. I saw some girly pink hats that I wouldn't mind purchasing. I just have to find a favorite driver first...

I hope that this post has been helpful. Now all of you readers can enjoy a day at the race track, while remaining girly and classy. AND if any of you girly girl race fans out there has an idea of who I should root for when I attend my next race, I am open to your suggestions.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

It's That Time Again

2011-09-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

So there I was, minding my own business and watching some mindless television with my cousin Katelyn, when she began looking at my hair. As soon as I saw her face, I knew what was about to come out of her mouth...

"Erin, your roots are showing, it is time for us to dye your hair again."

Just like that, the Katelyn Kidd Hair Salon was back in business. We ran to Kerr Drug, picked up the right color and went to work. The pictures below will explain it all.

This time, Katelyn took it up a notch. She brought out a chair for me to sit in and she provided me with a lovely bottled Coca Cola, which is always refreshing. She knows how to keep her customers happy ;)

We had to fight off the dogs, and wait for Katelyn's brother Caleb to hold the camera straight, but we eventually got it done. Yay for my roots being gone once again!

I love having my own personal hairstylist right down the road. The Katelyn Kidd Hair Salon did an excellent job once again! I would recommend her for all of your hair dying needs. :)

Let's Get Cracking

2011-08-31T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!! Today is a good day.

Why is today a good day you ask? Only because you are reading my blog of course :) AND today is a good day to be reading my blog because I have a wonderfully exciting topic for you. We are about to get cracking with Crackle Nail Polish.

This week I got to have a girl's day with my friends Hannah Thomas, Kelli Ferguson, and Maleah Cole. It was very much needed. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. We went and ate lunch at San Felipe and then we headed to the mall so that they could get pedicures. I use the word 'they' since my lack of funds kept me from joining in on the fun. However, I did have just about the same amount of fun admiring all the different kinds of polishes as I would have participating in the pedicure party. After the pedicures, we wondered around the mall for a while and then decided it was time to head home. Hannah and I jumped into her Volkswagen Bug and headed out.

Hannah's car is white btw

On the way home, Hannah informed me that she had just purchased some Crackle nail polish from Sally's Beauty Supply and that she had it in her car. I was so excited and I immediately asked her if I could try it out. She said yes :) So, as soon as we got to my house, I jumped out of the car and went to work on the nails.

Hannah bought the pink China Glaze polish. She told me that she thought it would look best with a dark color or a really light color underneath. So, the first step was to paint my nails dark blue.

After my blue nails dried, Hannah painted on the Crackle nail polish for me. She had to leave after she was finished painting, so she told me that I just had to be patient and wait for the cracking to occur. So I waited.....Eventually, the nails dried and the waiting was worthwhile. I loved my nails. Check them out!

I was very impressed with how the blue and pink went together. Just looking at my nails made me happy.

Now, I would like to apologize that my pictures aren't that great, my camera would not focus and I couldn't get a good close up. However, you can like the Crackle Nailpolish page on facebook and see lots of different pictures with all kinds of colors. You can also upload your own pictures of your painted nails. Click here to check it out. You can also go online and find out what stores sell this product. Or, you could just do what I did and borrow from a friend ;)

Thank you Hannah for helping to make my nails look fabulous! I give Crackle nail polish a big thumbs up!

The Earth Was Quakin

2011-08-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

Today, I had a first. Not a first kiss or a first date, but something way more exciting than that.

Today I felt my first EARTHQUAKE!

There I was, minding my own business and taking my finger nail polish off in the bathroom. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. My little brother Eric came running to me yelling that his room was moving. After a few seconds, the shaking stopped.

Naturally, since I am in North Carolina, the idea of an earthquake never crossed my mind. I quickly ran to the laundry room to see if our dryer was going crazy...(that happens sometimes). Realizing that the dryer was not on, I went to look in the basement to see if I could find anything that could have caused this shaking. I was unable to find anything wrong and since the shaking had stopped, I went back to removing my nail polish.

When my daddy and brother Andrew got home, I told them about the weird shaking. They looked at me like I was crazy. They had not felt anything. However, once daddy turned on the television and saw the news, all of our questions were answered. The shaking of the house was all thanks to an earthquake that occurred in Northern Virginia around 1:50pm. The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.8 and was felt all over the East Coast. Including our beautiful state of North Carolina!

Can you tell I am a Tarheel fan?

Anyway, I would like to apologize to all of you readers who were hoping to find a new girly post, but I just felt that this monumental moment in my life needed to be shared. Today, I was shaken by an actual earthquake! I am just glad that it didn't shake me all night long ;).

It's Hard to be a Girly Girl Around Here

2011-08-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

As I have mentioned before, my family raises tobacco. Every summer we head out to the fields to set, top, and prime. Working in the field this summer has put a little kink into my attempt to become a girly girl. The combination of sweat, dirt, and bugs is enough to make any girl run away screaming. It is just not a good activity for most girly girls out there. However, the girls and women in my family work hard and do not mind getting a little down and dirty. We are used to the dirt stained hands and the blisters.

One day in the field, we were brainstorming about blog post ideas and we stumbled upon a great one. We decided that it would be entertaining to do a blog post on how to remain girly while working in a tobacco field. After thinking about it for a while, I compiled a list of items that are required to keep yourself as clean and pretty as possible while working. I don't know how much this will help any of you out there, but maybe you can just be entertained by our misery.

The first thing you should never leave the house and head to the field without, is water. You will be thirsty during the day because the sun is hot. Taking water breaks periodically is necessary to keep from becoming dehydrated and getting sick. Water is also a healthy subsitute for soft drinks or other sugar drinks. You need water while working in tobacco.

The next thing that you should never leave your home without is a hat. It can be any kind of hat that you want, as long as it covers and protects your face from the sun. The hat gives you shade and keeps those powerful rays away. No sun=no sunburn faces. The sun can be very cruel to faces. I mean, what girly girl wants to have wrinkles before her time?

I just thought that this was cute :)

Going right along with the hat, you should also apply sunscreen before you head out. It keeps you from those painful sunburns. Take it from me, you do not want to be working out in the field with sunburn. It is not fun. Plus, it also protects your skin from future wrinkles and keeps you from getting what we like to call a "farmer's tan." I don't think any girly girls want one of those.

Now, if you are like me, you don't do well in the sun. My eyes are very sensitive to light and can really start to hurt if they are exposed to it without protection. For this reason, I always wear sunglasses while I am working. They help me to see clearer and keep my eyes from hurting later in the day. Just make sure that your shades are really protecting you from the UV rays. I have some plastic ones that did not get the job done.

The last thing that I always make sure to take with me to the field are gloves. Wearing gloves while you work keeps you from having dirt stained hands. Believe me, those stains take forever to go away. The gloves also help to stop blisters and callouses from forming on your hands. I personally use rubber gloves. These really come in handy (haha get it?). Anyway, these really come in handy for a girly girl who doesn't want embarrassing, dirt stained hands all summer. The boys will not be attracted to that!

So there you have it. Everything that you need to stay as girly as you possibly can while working in a tobacco field. These items can also apply to all kinds of outdoor work, from gardening to working with straw. I hope all of you hard working girly girls gained something from this post. AND if you have never had to work in a field somewhere, then look down at this picture of my cousin Katelyn and I and count your blessings. But, no matter what kind of work you do...stay girly my friends :)

Rock Your World Quesadillas

2011-08-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

Part of me growing up and becoming a girly girl is learning to cook and take care of myself. So watch out! I am back in cooking action!

I promised that I would be making some quesadillas soon, and they are finally here. However, these are not your average, everyday quesadillas. These are Rock Your World Quesadillas.

My friend Brandon Coble and I have a goal to visit as many Hard Rock Cafes as we can. It is almost like a challenge to see how many of the restaurants we can conquer. We have been to one in Florida (Destin), one in Spain (Madrid), and one in France (Paris).

I first encountered these Rock Your World Quesadillas at the Hard Rock Cafe in Madrid, Spain when I was studying Spanish abroad. I have always loved quesadillas, but I was usually just a chicken and cheese kind of girl. After Brandon introduced me to the barbecue quesadillas that he makes (which are super yummy), I began to be more open to other options.

As I was reading the menu, these babies caught my eye. They sounded scrumptious and featured ingredients that I would never have thought would be included in a quesadilla. Feeling experimental, I quickly ordered them and dug in. They were so good! I left the restuarant very happy that I had found something new that I enjoyed. My world was rocked....

As you know, this summer my Momma and I have been trying to think of new recipes to cook. I suggested that we try to find the recipe for the quesadillas. I described them to her and we enlisted the help of Google. We typed in "recipes for quesadillas at the Hard Rock" and guess what we found? That's right, those scrumptious quesadillas. We got to work immediately.

Ingredients:
flour tortillas
sprinkle cheese
grilled or boiled chicken breast
barbecue sauce
crushed pineapple
bacon bits

Step 1: Sprinkle the cheese over half of the tortilla. Then add chicken and pieces of pineapple. After this is done, it is time for the barbecue sauce and bacon bits. The amount of each ingredient is up to you. Go by your own taste preferences.

Step 2: Spray the pan with cooking spray and place the quesadillas inside. Make as many quesadillas as you want.

Step 3: Stick them in the oven until they are golden brown.

When they are brown, get them out of the oven. Once they have cooled, get out your plate and get to eating. You can enjoy them alone, or add some extra sour cream or barbecue sauce for dipping. After the first bite, your world will start rocking. :)

Now, I have a question for all you readers and girly girls....Which Hard Rock Cafe do you think Brandon and I should conquer next?

Tax Free is The Life For Me

2011-08-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Notebooks, clothes, computers....the list of things that students need for the new school year goes on and on. The price can really rack up. Shopping for school supplies can put a hurting on your wallet.

Luckily, this weekend is tax free weekend in the state of North Carolina. If you are willing to brave the lines, the amount of money that you would usually spend on all the things your child needs for school will drop drastically.

Here is a list of items that the tax free weekend applies to:
- school supplies, clothing, and footwear under $100
-computers under $3,500
-equipment for computers under $250
-sports and recreation equipment under $50

This weekend is the perfect time for those big purchases that you have been putting off, like the new laptop or furniture for your college student's apartment. My brother, Andrew Kidd, is going to have an apartment at Elon University this year. Yesterday he went out shopping for anything he thought he might need. He came back with all kinds of goodies, but his favorite purchase of the day was his Mario Kart comforter. This was our favorite video game when we were little.

The ladies are going to love this.

Tax free weekend can also benefit those of us that do not need to purchase school supplies. For girly girls and fashion divas, it is the perfect chance to go shopping for new outfits. It gives us an excuse to shop without feeling guilty about spending too much money. We can always just say "Well it is tax free weekend, so I'm not spending as much." So do not miss this opportunity to get your retail therapy on; you will be kicking yourself in the foot if you do. Get out there and get to some tax free shopping!

ps- If any of you with money would like to buy my broke self this beautiful dress from Dillards on this lovely tax free weekend, I would be a really happy camper :)

An Ode to Hairspray

2011-08-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

What is an ode?

"An ode is typically a lyrical verse written in praise of, or dedicated to someone or something which captures the poet's interest or serves as an inspiration for the ode."-from the one and only Wikipedia

The ode that I am writing today will not be lyrical, however it will be full praise for something that all girly girls use on a regular basis. My ode will be an ode to hairspray.

Hairspray is probably the hardest working beauty product in history. Hairspray is always putting in those extra hours at work. Hairspray never fails to hold your hair in place whether it be for prom, a beauty pageant, or just one of those days where you need a little curl in your life. Hairspray is always there in your hair's time of need. As my friend Emily Lewis says, "Hairspray is my hair's best friend."

I received my first bottle of hairspray as a gift this past Christmas. This was quite a relief for my friends because I had been constantly barging into their rooms and asking to borrow some. After that, I would just spray in a little bit, or a lot since my hair is so long, and happily go about my business for hours with my hairstyle intact. I did not have to worry about my curls falling out after only 20 minutes anymore. It was such a relief.

My first bottle of hairspray was from Suave.

You may be wondering what got me thinking about the outstanding skills of hairspray. Well, it is quite simple.

Tomorrow is August 4th. This is usually just another day of summer to be wasted away with sunbathing and relaxing. However, this August 4th is different. I have been looking forward to this day for a long time. On this day, we will get the chance to see hairspray at its best. Tomorrow is the premiere of the 4th season of Jersey Shore.

In this season you will get to see the cast find their way around Italy, beat each other up, AND use an extreme amount of hairspray. These people take pride in their hairstyles, and depend on the use of hairspray to keep it looking fantastic all night long. In the show, big hair and hairspray are a way of life.

Snooki showcasing her hairspray spraying talents.

The moral of the story is, hairspray is a product that you need in order to become a girly girl. If you want your hair to stay the way that you styled it, it is a need. I am a huge fan of hairspray and I will continue to sing its praises to girly girls everywhere. Plus, the Snooki poof that we all know and love would be nothing without it.

Birds of a Feather

2011-07-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

When I was young, I used to love to find bird feathers laying around the yard. Not only were they beautiful, but they were also used to soar above the clouds. The way birds fly has always intrigued me and made me a little jealous. Why wasn't I born with wings and feathers? I would like to give flying a shot.

I now have a chance to have my very own feathers. Unfortunately, they will not help me fly, but they will help me look very stylish.

Feathers are the new fashion accessory that has all the girly girls going crazy. We first caught a glimpse of this trend when celebrities began adding feather hair extensions to their luscious locks.

Ke$ha has a thing for feathers.

Selena Gomez and her trendy feathers.

After the paparazzi captured celebs rocking the feathers, the race was on among us normal folks to get our hands on the trend. Feather extensions have now sprung up in salons and hair care product stores everywhere. You can purchase the extensions in all different kinds of colors and styles. You can even purchase an extension to go with your many different outfits.

However, while the feather hair extensions are super trendy and stylish, I find myself loving the feather jewelry even more. I am very excited about the feather earrings and feather necklaces that have popped up in stores like Charming Charlie and Forever 21. You can choose a smaller, classier type of feather that could dress up elegant evening attire. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, you can choose some colorful, over the top designs.

The good news is, the feathers will be loved by all of your girly friends, no matter what style you choose. Oh, and I also have some more good news. I know of a place where you can get your own custom made feather hair extensions and earrings.. (Don't worry, you can thank me for this information later).

My friend Amanda Sowards is super knowledgeable in the ways of being girly, and is the writer of a blog called Stiletto Confessionals. In her blog she writes about everything girly, from what hair supplies to use to how to pick out the perfect outfit.

Amanda is in the feather making business and is currently holding a feather sale through her blog. She is selling clip on hair extensions and changeable earrings that she made herself. All of her designs are very stylish and I assure you that you will love them. If you are interested in seeing her designs or purchasing some feathers from her, click here. This link will take you to her feather sale page where she has displayed her designs and prices. I am super excited that she is making these feathers and I plan on purchasing a pair of earrings myself.

Now get your girly girl self in gear, get to her blog, and buy you some beautiful feathers.

It's Friday...Again

2011-07-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

I know, I know..I have been missing in action lately. I apologize for neglecting all of you girly girls. I know that you have missed me. I have just been so busy lately looking for jobs, spending time with my family, and working in the tobacco field in the morning. My momma and I have even joined a gym during my absence, so I am working on getting myself in shape.

ok, so that's not me, but you get the idea

Anyway, I know that all of you have been waiting anxiously on the edge of your seats to see what I will write about next. Never fear, Erin is here to quench your reading thirst. So brace yourself, for the wonderfully, amazing blog post that you are about to read.

On this happy Friday I have 2 words for you: Katy Perry.

Yep, that's right, Katy Perry is my inspiration for today's blog post. How has she inspired me you ask? Is it her hair, her style of clothes, or maybe her lovely nail polish designs? Well, while all of those are very inspiring, the reason I am talking about Katy Perry is because today is Friday and she has a new single all about this glorious day.

Maybe it is just because I actually get a break from the tobacco field tomorrow, or maybe I just really like songs about Fridays. Whatever the reason, I have found myself turning the volume way up whenever this song comes on the radio. It is called Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F) and I wanted to share the song that is currently rocking my Fridays. The video is kinda long, but it is worth the watch, and it features that other singer that sang about Friday...Rebecca Black! So, sit back, relax and thank God it is Friday with Katy Perry.

Kinda reminds you of college doesn't it?

Oh So Charming

2011-07-08T13:58:00.000-07:00

Today I have something to share with all of you girly girls out there. It is a store that I have come across this summer. It is called Charming Charlie.

Being the broke, unemployed, college graduate that I am, I don't get to go out shopping very often. I only make exceptions when one of my friends wants to go. In these cases, I will tag along because I am an excellent window shopper. I like to look at all the clothes that I could have, if I had the money to purchase them.

On this particular occasion, my friend Katie Parham wanted to do some shopping in Greensboro and asked me to go along. I agreed to join in on the shopping trip because I had a little bit of money from graduation. So we hopped in the car with her momma and headed out.

During the car ride, they told me we were going to a store that I would love. They told me it was a girl's dream. Naturally, I became very excited. I had been told about this store before by my friend Nicole Harper, but I had never seen it for myself. I could barely contain my excitement when we pulled into Friendly Center and located the store.

Let me tell you ladies, this is the store for girly girls. It has dresses, headbands, watches, jewelry, shoes and any other kind of accessory you could dream of. The best part about the store is that everything is arranged by color. So, if your favorite color is pink, you can just head on over to the pink section to check it out.

I was amazed at all the different colors and accessories. I could probably spend hours in the store, just looking at everything. You can check out the store at http://www.charmingcharlie.com/home. Do not be discouraged by their lack of pictures, the store is amazing, I promise. I didn't make any purchases on that shopping day because I was too overwhelmed and could not decide what I wanted. But, next time I head to Greensboro, I am planning a stop.

PS- please take a look at these new shoes by Chanel. They are flaslights, how crazy is that? Would you wear flashlight shoes?

Baby You're a Firework

2011-07-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

BBQ, families, lakes, beaches, lemonade, parades, cookouts, and fireworks. It's that time of year again...the fourth of July. It is the day that we declared our Independence from Great Britain. It is a celebration of America, a time to be patriotic and reflect on everything that our country stands for. But...for many girly girls everywhere, it is a chance to accessorize.

If you are a true girly girl, you know that you are guilty of running out to the store to purchase something red, white, or blue. This year I chose to paint my toenails blue in order to be patriotic. Blue is also one of my favorite colors :)

When it comes to the accessories, some girls keep it simple, like a stylish red necklace. Others can go a little overboard....

No matter what Fourth of July style you choose, you can always sit down and enjoy one of my favorite parts of the holiday...Fireworks :) They light up the sky and they sparkle..what more could a girly girl ask for?

So throw on your Fourth of July attire, whether it be a new red dress or an American Flag bikini, get out there and celebrate.

To all of you girly girls out there, Happy 4th of July!!

I ♥ Boobies

2011-06-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

"Erin, what does your bracelet say?!"
"Hey Erin, where did you get that bracelet?"
"Well that's an interesting bracelet."

These are all comments that I have gotten whenever I wear my pink I heart boobies bracelet around town. Some people think it is cute, and others shake their heads at the term 'boobies'. However, I wear my bracelet with pride because it means a whole lot more than you would think.

My friend D.J. Shipp was the first person I ever saw wearing one of these bracelets. I giggled when I saw it on his arm, thinking that it was just a silly bracelet that he found somewhere. Then I began noticing other people around me sporting them, and I decided that I might need to get one for myself.

During a random shopping trip to Concord Mills with Brandon Coble and Stuart Thomson, we finally found the bracelets at a skateboarding store called Zumiez. Brandon, being the always generous person that he is, purchased a bracelet for each of us. He said that these bracelets could be our friendship bracelets and that he was never going to take his off. I was very excited that I finally had my own boobies bracelet.

These bracelets are super cute and stylish, everything a girly girl would want...AND who would have thought that they were a way to help stop breast cancer. When you purchase a bracelet, the proceeds will go to The Keep a Breast Foundation. It is a non-profit organization whose mission is to "help eradicate breast cancer by exposing young people to methods of prevention, early detection and support." The idea is to increase breast cancer awareness in young people so they will choose better lifestyles in order to stay healthy and hopefully keep a breast...hence the name.You can learn more about the cause and donate money to the foundation at http://www.keep-a-breast.org. You can also shop for all types of I heart boobies apparel.

The bracelets come in many different colors, so you can pick one that matches your own unique style. You can also purchase other types of items like shoes and lanyards. After I visited the website today, I have my eye on this pretty bracelet. I also would not mind being the owner of this super cute zip up sweatshirt.

I believe that all girly girls and manly men should help out with the cause and rock a I heart boobies bracelet. We all know that the world would be a much sadder place without them.

Ps- last time I asked, Brandon was still going strong and had not removed his bracelet.

Hair Dying: Randolph County Style

2011-06-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

Dark roots plague every girly girl that highlights her hair. When the roots begin to show, it is always a sign that it is time to hand out the big bucks to get your hair highlighted again.

Last year, when those darn dark roots began to show, my cousin Katelyn Kidd suggested that I let her dye my hair instead of paying to have it highlighted.

Being the broke college student that I was, I decided that the experiment was worth it. We headed off to Target and bought the color, and after the second try (the first time we didn't like the color), we had successfully gotten rid of those roots.

When I arrived home this summer, my roots were bothering me again. Katelyn, being the hair stylist that she is, said that it was time for another dye job. So I headed over to Kerr Drug to pick out just the right blonde for me. I ended up choosing a very light blonde from L'Oreal. I would highly recommend using this brand. Although it is a little bit more pricey than other hair dyes, it definitely got the job done.

When I showed up at Katelyn's house to get to work, she informed me that instead of the tub, we were going to do the hair dying in the yard. Being the trusting cousin that I am, I headed outside and Katelyn got to work.

You can call me a redneck if you want

About halfway through the first bottle of dye, Katelyn decided that because my hair was so long, we were going to need another bottle. So what did we do?

We grabbed my aunt Lisa, who could not stop laughing, and headed back to Kerr Drug for another box. I need to add that the dye from the first box was still in my hair. I was too embarrassed to go inside the store, so Lisa went in for us and picked up the color. Then we headed back to the house to complete the transformation. The moral of this part of the story is, when dying long hair always purchase 2 bottles of dye, you will need them.

Upon arrival back at the house, we applied the other bottle of dye, left it in my hair for the appropriate 40 minutes, and then promptly rinsed out my hair with the garden hose. After this, Katelyn sent me inside to condition and dry my hair.

Now I know what you are thinking, this redneck dye job could not have possibly turned out well right? Wrong! I love the way the color turned out, and I have been getting compliments on it from people all over the community. However, all the credit should really go to Katelyn. I believe she should start charging for her hair dying services. Check out my root-free hair!

AND that is how you dye your hair, Randolph County style :)

It's Friday

2011-06-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

Since I have been home, it has come to my attention that some people in my county have never heard "Friday" by Rebecca Black. I am not sure how they missed this 'amazing' phenomenon. Of course, it could be because they do not spend countless hours on Youtube like most college students.

However, the official video has been removed from Youtube. Black's family felt that their daughter was being exploited and that her image was being damaged. This is a very sad day in history, no longer can you enjoy the musical talent and sing a long to the catchy tune. This is a great loss and it will be mourned by college students everywhere.

Luckily, I managed to find the video, and I want to share it with all of you today. According to Zandi Watts, this is the best thing that has happened this year. She has the song on her itunes list, and we would occasionally jam out to it when getting ready for events. I feel that every girly girl needs to know about this song. It is a neccessity.

So, here it is. In honor of today, since it is Friday. I present to you the song that has charmed America, being called "the most annoying song of the year" and the song that tries to convince us that 13-year olds can drive. It could also be a new way for children to learn their days of the week. Anyway, enough rambling. Here it is, for your listening pleasure, "Friday" by Rebecca Black.

Adventures in Pasta Making

2011-06-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

Girly Girls need to know how to cook.

Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying that the women should be doing all the cooking in the household, in fact I am a firm believer in equally splitting all of the household chores. However cooking is an essential part of growing up and taking care of yourself. Let's face it, without food girly girls everywhere would be too tired to go shopping.

In an attempt to grow up and learn more girly things, I have decided that I want to learn to cook a little this summer. Hence, the adventure in pasta making began.

My brother, Andrew Kidd, is a junior at Elon University. We love visiting Andrew at school because we love him and miss him....or maybe it is just because the school has amazing food! Anyway, on one of these missions to enjoy the Elon cafeteria my momma and I enjoyed some wonderful pasta. Ever since, we have wanted to cook up this pasta ourselves. We tried it over Christmas and it came out wonderfully, but my momma did most of the work. This time, Andrew and I decided to do all the cooking.

I was in charge of chopping up the peppers and onions to mix in the Ragu sauce that we bought to pour on top of our pasta.

I think they look pretty good if I don't say so myself.

I became a fan of Ragu on my spring break trip to Destin, Florida when Jenn Layton cooked us some scrumptious spaghetti using the sauce. Ragu is some very yummy stuff.

Andrew was in charge of boiling the noodles. He decided that he needed a little extra protection in order to complete his job, so he broke out his chemistry goggles.

Never a dull moment when he is around.

After chopping and boiling, we threw the peppers and onions into the pan to soften them up a bit.

look at that chopping job

When they were ready, we added the Ragu, sprinkled some Parmesan cheese on top and then BAM! we had everything we needed to make some super yummy pasta. And I now introduce to you the final product of our adventure in pasta cooking...

looks pretty good huh?

The pasta turned out very nicely, and we had enough left over to eat on for a few days. This was especially helpful when we got home from the tobacco field and needed something to eat.

Now, that we have conquered the pasta making, we have been contemplating other types of food that we could learn to make. We have been thinking about quesadillas, but there is no guarantee. You girly girls will have to stay tuned to find out.

Oh and besides making pasta, I did learn one other valuable lesson from this adventure: The worst part of cooking, is cleaning up afterward.

Mommy Wow, I'm a Big Kidd Now

2011-05-31T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hello girly girls everywhere! It has been a while since I wrote a post. I know you have missed me :). I think it is time to catch you up.

I am now a college graduate. Yep, that's right. I have graduated from Catawba College and have now entered the real world.

I'm so grown up :)

The 4 years that I spent at Catawba College forever changed me and I believe that they have changed me for the better. I would like to thank all my friends, family, professors, and any others that helped me along the journey. The journey to becoming a girly girl may still be ongoing, but the journey to becoming a college graduate has come to an end.

So what am I doing now? Well... I have a dream job and I am making millions of dollars! Yeah..so that is a little far from the truth. Actually, I am currently jobless and I am living at home with my parents and brothers, attending baseball games and working in the tobacco fields. Glamorous life right?

Anyway, I have been applying for jobs like crazy, but since nothing has come my way, I have decided to blog every now and then to pass the time. I cannot promise this will be a weekly, or even a monthly thing, but whenever I get the inspiration, I will try my best to post something.

The truth is, the possibilities are endless when it comes to trying to be a girly girl, and I have a lot more to learn to be labeled that way. So stay tuned for upcoming posts, and stay girly. :)

Photography by Zandi :)

ps- Congratulations to all of the Catawba College class of 2011, we did it!