Mandii's Muse

You guys! Today is my 600th blog post! It took a crazy thought to start this blog, numerous brainstorms, hours of work, and several hiatuses but here we are! I just want to say THANK YOU to my followers and readers for sticking with me, and reading this little hobby of mine. You are all seriously the best! So, since this is a big milestone I'm going to share some of my favorite blog posts! This post on Celtic Thunder's new CD is the first "official" blog post! I still absolutely flip for this vegetable lasagna recipe! So good y'all! Unfortunately the " Mandii Buys Your Jersey Curse " is still going strong. I'm doomed. One of my favorite outfit posts I’ve done was when I had you all vote on which dress I should wear to two weddings! I love to travel, and one of my favorite trips was my trip to QVC and West Chester, PA. I’d love to be able to do that trip again! The sports lover in me just about peed my pants when I went to the N...

I celebrated my parent's anniversary this summer! Well, if you are reading this, my summer is officially over. Tomorrow is my first sub day, and there is no doubt 5:30 a.m. is going to come way early, and I will most likely be sacked out on the couch by 8:30 p.m. Today, I am linking up with Andrea to share with you some of my favorite Summer memories, and man there were a lot! I loved going to Indians games this summer. My first one went great, and it was so much fun! My second one didn't go quite as well. (We're still waiting on our redemption tickets!) Even though it was a disaster, I can honestly say that I didn't mind spending 6 hours in the car with my parents. It gave us a time to talk, laugh, and cry. (That was me, I totally cried.) I had a few chocolate milkshakes! Another special time that I'll remember was guinea pig night at my Bubba's house. I would make a main dish, and she would fill in with side dishes and dessert. It helped me hone ...

In my opinion, jewelry can turn an otherwise boring outfit into something fabulous. I have lots of costume jewelry pieces that can enhance my outfits. However, there is one piece of jewelry that I never take off. My gold cross that my parent's got me. I don't even remember getting this necklace. I always remember having it. In pictures from my toddler years, I have this necklace on. It has always been with me. When I wear this necklace, I feel comforted, and can feel that God is with me. I also feel a little piece of my parent's with me as well. I thought I lost this necklace 2 days before I was to begin student teaching. I took this necklace off to wear a statement necklace, and thought I put it on my dresser. When I went to put it back on, it was not there. Cue me looking high and low in tears for this necklace. Thank God for my Mom, because she was there to calm me down and help me retrace my steps. My Dad was the one that found it, on the coffee table in the livi...

Oh, the memories behind this little purchase!! In honor of the Super Bowl that happened a week ago, I wanted to share with you the memory I have of my Tom Brady jersey. (I don't follow the NFL super closely, but I do root for the Pats.)  The year is 2006. The Patriots are playing the Colts in the AFC Championship game. Patriots are up by 18 at halftime. I decide that I need to order a Tom Brady jersey, because they can't lose this game and are going to the Super Bowl. W.R.O.N.G. THEY LOST THE GAME! Image Patriots fans, I'm sorry I was the cause of the massive jinx that year!! Needless to say, I didn't wear my jersey when I got it. It went right into storage to be used the next season. I felt like a total dork for ruining the game. (Was it my fault, absolutely not! However, it felt like it though!) Unfortunately, this scenario has happened far too often. Who bought a James Neal jersey, wore it once, and he gets traded? This girl. I could go on and on about pla...

I absolutely love New York City. My love affair started when I watched the movie Serendipity. I first went to the city for my 16th birthday. I went to Radio City, Empire State Building, Central Park, and Serendipity to name a few! A few years after that, I went again. This time I stopped at Carnegie Deli, John's Pizza, Serendipity (again), Top of the Rock and the Statue of Liberty. Even though I am a country girl, I love spending a weekend in a big city like New York. The item of clothing I am going to talk about today is a purple jacket that I wore to NYC! Brooklyn Bridge!! In this jacket, I ate my first Nathan's hot dog. I got to see the Brooklyn Bridge, and Chelsea Piers. I remember riding in the bus trying to get to Chinatown in this jacket. I remember going to the Winter Garden, and looking at the construction of the Freedom Tower wearing this jacket. This is just a simple jacket that I bought from JC Penney. How can it hold so many memories? I can't wait t...

I'm in Cameron! Everything has a story, right? I think so, and I think clothes tell stories too. I think most people have an item of clothing that they just can't get rid of because it holds a special memory. I have several, and I want to share them with you! I am going to start a new Thursday series on my blog that deals with just that! So if you have one too, link up with me! Let's share stories! The first item of clothing that I have a significant memory of is this royal blue ruffled t-shirt. This shirt has such great memories. I bought this shirt at Wal-Mart, once I found out I was going to my first Duke game in 2010! After four long years of waiting to go to a game, I wanted something that had Duke colors, but still looked nice. (Just in case I met any players walking around campus!)  Plus, it was comfortable, lightweight, and perfect for a Durham, NC February day! One of the reasons I am a Duke fan today Well, this shirt didn't disappoint. I will al...