Early morning New Year's Eve

     Greetings everyone!
This morning I had errands to run and decided little needed some mama/daughter time.   After getting my oil changed she and I headed to the nail salon.  I have posted just a few pics of our day.  She is so much fun.  I really...really, love this girl.

Little and I driving through the car wash.  For some reason she really thinks this is cool.  

Nail time.

Two girls in need a good time!

Not sure what happened to little here, I think her mask is too tight, lol.  

Wa-La, the beautiful women that we really are!  Diamonds included. :)

We hope everyone has a safe and happy new year celebration tonight. 

-xoxo

Christmas in Charleston, S.C.

Hello Charleston and goodbye 2014! 

     This year all the babies were spastically missing here and there with plans of their own.  On the offset of feeling lonely without them and celebrating my anniversary, I decided to book a trip to warm, sunny Charleston, S.C.  What a lovely idea it was!  We began our visit on King St.  Anyone who's anyone knows that King Street is the best place in the south to shop.  

     Headed to "Isle of the Palms", driving with the windows down, we smell all sorts of foods and the bright sun is so welcoming to my soul.  To top it off, love the local sounds on the street corners.  A true reminiscent of authentic old south.  You just can't beat it. 

     I once upon a time lived in Savannah, GA which isn't too far from Charleston.  Bridges are a big thing!  Savannah, Charleston and New Orleans have some of the coolest! 

     Pulling over to say hello the waters edge and to stretch our legs.  Such a different world from Chattanooga, TN.  I don't think there is a winter down here.  Trees still leafy and grass as green as our sweetest summer.  

     I sort of have a thing for parks.  Especially parks with huge trees sitting beside the sea.  :)

     Here we are, happy to be out of the car and more happy to be at the end of the earth!

     The view from our hotel room.  I could stay here forever.  I left the door open and the sound of the ocean rocked me like a baby to the sweetest sleep ever.  

     This is my walk to the waters edge.  The sun is beginning to set and all seems still in my world. Here are a few pics of my evening walk.

     Every beach is different.  This is the only place where I've seen the star-fish wash up on shore like this.  The beach was covered in the A.M.  A million stars danced on my beach just for me. 

     Here I am without a care and so happy to be in the bright light where I can see.  So I see inside of me.  Here I am sweet Lord...hold my hand because tomorrow is unsettled.  Today though, you are here with me... let me dream.

     Headed over to the Boone Hall Plantation. This is an amazing story and hey do these trees look familiar?  Can anyone say..."Forest Gump?" They are really a site to see.  A very peaceful area.

     Do y'all recognize this?  This was Alley's home in "The Notebook".  We participated in a home tour.  I wasn't able to get pics of inside the house but it was beautiful.  The whole top floor is off limits as the owners use it as a private dwelling a few times a yr.

     These are the slave dwellings.  Interestingly enough the guides tell the stories of these days in history.  These slaves were worth a lot of money and a very valuable asset to the plantation.  Most slaves were not beaten or mistreated and in fact were given the best medical care and food rations than  you could imagine.  They were even given freedom of worship and their children were raised within families.  It kind of brings some perspective to the whole "slave" thing eh?

Time to say goodbye  until next time.  Thank you Charleston.  There were so many other wonderful experiences here that I ran out of room to post.  Go yourself and find your own cool vibes down south. 

 Merry Christmas! 

The dream of me.

     

     You know that morning when you wake up to the strangest dream ever but you can't remember a damn thing?  You know it meant something, some piece of valuable insight that might just expose the missing piece to your life puzzle.  That was me this morning.  Hundreds of images flashing in my memory but nothing to put it all together except a feeling, something pushing my knowing past my unknowing.  

     It was about me, my life as dreams often are, nothing special there.  Yet it took me away from everything and I gotta sneaky suspicion I was fully, actively, wholeheartedly chasing something that I loved more than anything.  Where was I and what was I doing?  UGHHHHH!!!!!!!  I know I was fearless.  I know I was moving at a crazy speed of "doing exactly what needed to be done at that exact moment".  

     Go back to sleep Tess.  Go back to sleep and find that place cause aint nothing here telling you anything but to go eat.  At least in dream-time I float my way through the puzzle instead having to physically move the pieces but wait... physically moving them is reality.  Or is it?  

     Put your shoes on girl, the world awaits.  Early morning sunrise and let this nonsense go the best you can.  I will put this dream in my pocket today then tonight in my meditation pull it out and take it to the light.  

     I've been repeating my mantra a lot lately.  "I am the ocean, I am the sea, everything opens as I open me." Thinking about it real hard, yanking down some cobwebs in my head that have hindered my real journey.  Feeling love and to be loved everyday is bliss. The divine light that is in me, leading and guiding and me here just trying to make sense of it all.  

peace,

-Teresa Ann

Tree decorating at the Stars!

     Last night was supposed to be us finishing up our Christmas decorating.  Well... See I have this silly little girl that is really a joy to hang out with but she has a hard time hanging ornaments and pouring her life out at the same time. ;).  

It was a lot of fun hearing all about her friends and their drama and her take on everybody and their lives.  You just wouldn't believe the things kids have to deal with today though.  Good thing she has a really strong standard and a good head on her shoulders.  (patting myself on the back there). 

So here are just a few fun picks of how far we got with the tree and how silly she can be.  I'm gonna miss this little one when she's all grown up.  Juliet and I look back at all the pics of her throughout the years and how in every single one she's silly or making a crazy face.  Yep, I'm saving them!  Sure gonna come in handy sometime!  

This is seriously as far as we made it tonight.  Didn't even get to the star which is our favorite part because we are the Stars right?!?!  It's ok though cause we had the best time hanging out.  She's the last little one in our house (outside of Charlie) and it's really all for her and bug anyway.  I love my girls like crazy, I will cut you if you hurt them or make them cry, kinda love.  I'm a blessed mama indeed.  Ps. Greg, that is your painting sitting on the hutch behind the tree.  Dre was painting the room and when he re-hung it..it fell and busted the frame.  So of corse I freaked out!  It will get a brand new frame and go right back up in my wall.  I mention this because I know you notice every little thing. :) bahahahaha. Xoxo

Dis-Moi Cherie!

Happy Monday morning everybody!
I was never so glad to see a Friday as I was this one past.  A busy week at work and at home and absolutely ready for the weekend.  Andre and I decided that we were not going to sit in the house this winter.  So to kick off our commitment to brave the cold of winter we decided to go for a hike here in the Chattanooga area on Signal Mountain.  I have posted pics of this particular trail at Point Park.  It's one of the more strenuous hikes totaling about six miles round trip but it's definitely worth it.  The view alone is amazing.

This is me, it's cold but I'm ready!  See Tennessee River in the background.  

We picked the best day with the sun shining, no wind and extremely clear with no cloud cover. 

Shall we begin?

A marker on the trail that we always stop at and play.  Times past we have the kids with us and they love this area.  You can walk through from one side to the other.  I love this trail because of the diversity.  It's extremely rocky which makes you bend and move differently than on some.  This is Dre fighting the sun in his face.  We are not used to the pretty sunshine during the winter here. 

How far we have come!  You can see the rock out-cropping which becomes more and more as you go track further.  Inclines and crossing creeks, up and down we go.  

A small break, water and a selfie.  Tess -n- Dre! 

Along the trail are a some really nice lookouts.  Really peaceful areas.  

Back on the trail again.  We get to see things in the winter that the summer hides with it's leaves. 

Another marker and we are just about to the bridge.

One thing I have learned,  is one person at a time across the swinging bridge.  Thanks to my brother for my PTSD of swinging bridges. :)

We must have had some rainfall on top usually in the summer this is a lot higher. 

There she is folks, what lies behind us as we venture on to the main lookout. Maybe half way there. 

This is a retirement community in the mountains.  They have these really cool bells that ring and you can here them for forever. 

I found color!  So pretty through this area.  Nothing but these red blooms.  In the spring and summer this area is really fragrant and bees are everywhere.  They don't bother you though.  They seem to live just fine with the butterflies as well. 

Now we are on the other side where there is way more sunshine. 

We made it! So so so pretty!  Definitely better than sitting at home or Christmas shopping.  Take time people.  You don't get days like this everyday. 

Taking in some sun and peaceful reflection. 

Can't I just stay here forever? 

A few pics of all our hard work to get here.  

Just lovely. 

It was a fine day on Signal and I am so glad we decided to take the time and hike this trail today.  Absolutely one of my most favorite things to do no matter where I am.  I'm up here and the world is down there.  

peace, 

-Teresa Ann