Silver Bits & Champagne

Always take your makeup off at night. Be kind to yourself in your thoughts. Put your phone away. LAUGH!!! Keep two bottles of Champagne in the fridge just because. Eat your greens. Spend time with your horse NOT training on something. Look people in the eye. Smile more. Be the first person to offer to help out. Buy your friend roses just because. Invest in gear and clothing of quality. Try something new. LAUGH!!! Learn to stand on your head just so you can impress a toddler at some point in your life. Always feed your animals first. Realize that you are 100 times stronger than you fully understand now. Get your toes done. Call your mother or father and tell them thank you. Get excited for fall but enjoy the last of summer. LAUGH!!! Color outside the lines. Learn to cook something you always order at a restaurant. Seek excellence. Allow yourself to have a bad day, week, or month; it’ll get better. Catch a few sunrises/sunsets with your dog and a cup of coffee a few times a month. Just be. Love your crazy, imperfect life and take ACTION to be the person you want to be!!

xo xo Liz

Always Kiss Her Goodnight

A smile is better than the most expensive lipstick.

The nicest decorations for any home, no matter how poor or how grand, are fresh flowers.

Little gifts should be given to those you love frequently and for no reason at all. They’re the best.

Even when the situation is awkward and you feel uncomfortable, in moments of grief it is always appropriate to give the hurting person a hug and say, “I’m sorry.”

Learn to make your own bread. It’s so much better. Especially with good butter and homemade preserves.

Everyone should read the Little House on the Prairie series, the Chronicles of Narnia, and Jeremiah Johnson.

Our families are insane, out of their minds, loud and constantly in our business….but they’re family. Culture relationships with them and stay friends anyway.

Always make time for children in your life.

Watch Hatari! with John Wayne again.

When having dinner with a group of people, technically the ladies aren’t supposed to refill their wine glasses….a man is. One hopes that the men at the table are paying attention to the state of one’s glass.

Make your own vanilla extract, spaghetti sauce, and whipped cream. They're just better.

Never underestimate the support and pleasure that can be found from a good bra. Also, never underestimate the discomfort that comes from wearing the wrong type cut of panties when playing cowboy all day.

Candles are always a nice touch at supper, even when you’re alone. Maybe especially when you’re alone.

Never fully trust people if they don’t have books in their house.

Never pass up an opportunity to rope the dummy.

Unless your parents are major dirtballs, never date anyone who doesn’t want to meet your family.

You can’t live a positive life unless you approach life with an amazing attitude and a positive outlook.

Always brush your hair starting from the ends.

Never wash your t-shirts and socks together.

Have a signature perfume. 

If you like her, always kiss her goodnight. 

xo xo Liz

A Random List

A smile is better than the most expensive lipstick.

The nicest decorations for any home, no matter how poor or how grand, are fresh flowers.

Little gifts should be given to those you love frequently and for no reason at all. They’re the best.

Even when the situation is awkward and you feel uncomfortable, in moments of grief it is always appropriate to give the hurting person a hug and say, “I’m sorry.”

Learn to make your own bread. It’s so much better. Especially with good butter and homemade preserves.

Everyone should read the Little House on the Prairie series, the Chronicles of Narnia series and Jeremiah Johnson.

Our families are insane, out of their minds, loud and constantly in our business….but they’re family. Culture relationships with them and stay friends anyway.

Always make time for children in your life.

Watch Hatari! with John Wayne again.

When having dinner with a group of people, technically the ladies aren’t supposed to refill their wine glasses….a man is. One hopes that the men at the table are paying attention to the state of one’s glass.

Make your own vanilla extract, spaghetti sauce, bread and whipped cream. They're just better.

Never underestimate the support and pleasure that can be found from a good bra. Also, never underestimate the discomfort that comes from wearing the wrong type cut of panties when playing cowboy all day.

Candles are always a nice touch at supper, even when you’re alone. Maybe especially when you’re alone.

Never fully trust people if they don’t have books in their house.

Never pass up an opportunity to rope the dummy.

Unless your parents are major dirtballs, never date anyone who doesn’t want to meet your family.

You can’t live a positive life unless you approach life with an amazing attitude and a positive outlook.

Always brush your hair starting from the ends.

Never wash your t-shirts and socks together.

If you like her, always kiss her goodnight.

xo xo Liz

The Best Feelings In the World

Washing alkaline dirt off yourself and out of your hair after trailing cows

Running through the sprinklers on a hot July day.

The way your arms feel after lifting weights.

Discovering an author who is able to make you feel what they feel.

When your leg swings over the saddle, under your rope and your butt hits the seat on a good horse.

Ironed sheets. Pure bliss.

When your timing is just right and you know you’re going to catch two heels beautifully before you even release.

Kneading bread dough.

Falling into bed exhausted, knowing that you can sleep for as long as you want.

Seeing your mom’s freezer full of otter pops when you’re 7 years old and it’s summer time.

The perfect cup of coffee.

Forehead kisses.

The feeling of today….freedom. Knowing that we all of us are here, living the way we want because of other people’s bravery, sacrifice and courage.

THAT cannot be bought and THAT, my friends, is the best feeling in the world.

Happy Fourth of July Dolls!!! We live in an amazing country, for all the faults it has, and we are blessed to live the lives that we do! Go celebrate with someone you love. 

xo xo Liz 

Things That Just Make You Smile

Heading over to another displaced BB college student’s house and taking an unfinished hackmore to work on while you’re there. You watch as another girl unpacks her book bag and out with the computer comes a bag of rawhide.

Finding an old pair of sunglasses in your mailbox (which does lead you to ask yourself why in the heck you decided to put sunglasses in there in the first place) that fit perfectly under your hat and around your head. Major score.

Getting 2am phone calls from cowboys who may or may not be slightly intoxicated and call you ‘darlin’. It’s kinda of cute. Especially considering the cowboy.

That first sip of the year’s first Arizona iced tea.

Roping the dummy in the back yard.

Signing up for the next semester’s worth of classes. It could feel sad if you let it, but realizing you’re just that much closer to achieving your degree is a great feeling.

Steer head, hide-on earrings. Mooo.

Drinking beer and eating hot wings with delinquent friends who understand the obsessive need to collect more silver and discuss who is with whom in the cowboy world.

Making literally the best spicy pork shoulder you’ve ever eaten. Feel free to perform small, triumphant happy dance right there.

Deciding to just go ahead and keep that hackmore you made and use it yourself dammit.

Scoring an original pair of Cruel Girl’s on Ebay for $15.99….oh yeah baby!

The feeling of the tires hitting the dirt road that takes you back home to the mums and dad and cows and horses and mountains. Contentment and excitement settle in all at once and you smile.

Hope you Dolls had a great Monday! 

xo xo Liz