Everything you ever wanted to know about Bernie Puggles...

Many of you know I entered a scrapbook page this year at the North Carolina State Fair that I was privileged enough to have won a second place ribbon for, and it featured a puppy named Bernie Puggles. I have had many ask me about his story and background, so I thought I would take a few minutes to share it here.

Bernie was the only male in a litter of seven puppies that a friend of my friend’s rescued from a local pound. They were brought to the “red barn” to live until they were able to go to their adoptive owners. My friend, Tonya, invited me to come out to visit these sweet cuddly critters over the summer, and I instantly fell in love with them. We started giving them all names (Moo-Moo was my favorite) when we noticed this one who was sticking to himself and making some odd noises. When he tried to sleep, he was not able to get comfortable and he just kept moaning and tossing to and fro. When I went over to pet him, I noticed how swollen his face was, his nose felt clammy and there was blood and gooky stuff coming out of his eyes. He was so swollen in the face that I remember making the comment that “he looks right puggily” and at that moment, we got his first name “Puggles”. Tonya ended up taking him home with her that night and he was miserable the entire night. They eventually took him to the veterinarian to find out he had a disease known as Puppy Strangles, which is something like shingles in humans. Puppy Strangles causes scarring on the face but it also affects the overall immune system. He immediately had to go on medication and could not go back to the barn and be around his sisters for fear of picking up other infections due to his low immune system; infections that if he caught could ultimately lead to his death.

Bernie was a very, very sick little boy, but he was in great hands being taken care of by his Mom. As time progressed, he continued to be on the medication but it was cut in half, and he continued to improve day-by-day. I was able to babysit him and his “half-sister” Lizzie over the July 4th holiday. Not only was Bernie getting better, he was getting to be a wild, rambunctious boy. The only downside was the medication he was taking made him constantly use the bathroom. We already know that puppies are going to be using the bathroom more frequently than older dogs, but when you’re on medication that makes you go even more, I might as well have walked around with a bucket chasing the poor boy. Sadly, all of Bernie’s siblings were sent off to their adoptive homes and he was never able to see them again nor has he ever been back to the barn. We all fell in love with him, but, how could you not love such a precious little face?

Recently, Bernie and I took a field trip where I brought him up to my house to let him run one weekend to get some of his wild energy out. What a good boy he was! Even though he is still in his puppy-destructive stages, he will stay right with you and he loves to sniff! He enjoyed his visit up to my house about as much as he loved the car ride there and back, which was an adventure when you have a dog come flying thru the air to land in your lap while you are driving – Bernie the Daredevil he is!!

Discussion soon arose as to what would happen to Bernie now that he was off his medication – should he go to some adoptive owners, would Tonya keep him or did I want to keep him? Sure, I wanted to keep him, but at this present moment, I did not have room for him because Zoey has sole reign over the big outdoor fence. So, when I entered Bernie’s page in the Fair, Tonya and I both realized that if he should be fortunate enough to win a ribbon, one of us would have to keep him. Once we realized he had won second place, we agreed that we should share “joint custody” – Tonya would be the Mommy and I would be the awesome, cool, I’m-going-to-spoil-the-mess-out-of-him Auntie! And, Tonya was one proud Mommy of her boy winning a ribbon because from what I have been told, Bernie and his ribbon went on a mini-tour after the Fair.

Recently, Bernie underwent his “surgery” to become a brand new man. Tonya did this in an attempt to see if it would help calm him down (that would take a miracle!), but, bless his heart, while he did great during and after the surgery, now, he is back on a different medication to deal with his tummy issues (he obviously inherited that from his Auntie!) This sweet little boy has been through a journey in his short few months of life. Needless to say, he has won Tonya’s heart since she is keeping him, and he’s got me wrapped around his gigantic paws! And even though he still does have his scars on his face, he is such a handsome fellow and he surely knows it, too!

Oh! And where did the name Bernie come from? Well, I’m still trying to figure that out myself – that was Tonya & Gary’s decision, but he’ll always be my puggily, little Bernie Puggles!

<

Let Me Define It For You...

It has come to my attention lately that many people have no idea what they are referring to when they are constantly using the phrase "Good 'Ole Boys" to define a categorization of people. Many of their concepts are misconstrued and just flat-out, blatantly inaccurate. So, let me take a few short minutes to explain to you what I consider to be the true definition of a “Good ‘Ole Boy” – your definition may differ from mine completely, but that is your opinion and this is mine – so take it with a grain of salt.

Growing up in the South, you quite often hear the phrase “He’s just a good ‘ole boy” used to describe an individual, but how do you appropriately define it or how do you know what type of person this applies to? Well, it really all depends upon who you are, where you are from and basically how you view people in general. An individual from Massachusetts is going to define a “Good ‘Ole Boy” differently from a person in North Carolina; just like an individual from North Carolina will probably define it differently than a person from Alabama. In reality, your definition may not be derived based upon where you are located regionally, but it may differ based upon how you were raised (or brought up, if I need to be proper about it!)

In general, when I think of “Good ‘Ole Boys”, two individuals immediately come to my mind – Bo and Luke Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard. These were two fun-loving, country boys, who for the most part, where very clean-cut guys who liked to have a lot of fun. They were country – plain and simple. They were (and are) “Good ‘Ole Boys”.

Most of the time, I do not necessarily classify “city-guys” as being defined as “Good ‘Ole Boys” but that is not to say they cannot be reformed! Typically, my standard view of a “Good ‘Ole Boy” is an individual whose heart is deeply rooted in his family, his home and has a passion for others. “Good ‘Ole Boys” like to have fun but can also be very humble and caring. They go above and beyond to help those in need – whether it is someone who has had a family member who has passed away to fixing a broken vehicle for someone or even just donating their time to help those unfortunate individuals in need. (And, yes, those individuals do still exist in America!) They are all-around good souls who want to do anything they can to help others, but at the same time, they are fiercely loyal and dedicated to those that they love.

On the contrast, there are many out there who when they hear the term “Good ‘Ole Boy” they immediately jump to conclusions and believe there is a society of men who are in some type of social elitist club who are out to harm the little man. Yes, maybe in some instances that does occur and cronyism does exist, but in my mind, that is not how I would classify a true Southern “Good ‘Ole Boy”. Many times you often hear a group of Southern politicians as being referred to in this term or you may hear that you have to be a member of the “Good ‘Ole Boy Club” to succeed in the job force. To me those that classify individuals in that manner are people who view these men who have power, prestige and wealth out of sheer jealousy of those in positions higher than themselves. They want to view these individuals in a derogatory manner and seek to tarnish their names. So, in my opinion, they misclassify them as “Good ‘Ole Boys” because they really cannot think of any other term to utilize.

I believe the true “Good ‘Ole Boy” versus those in the “club” are two different personas of individuals. Many of these Southern politicians or those in higher-profile professions are so high-minded that they would not know how to even get back out of the city and into the country. They have forgotten their true “raisin’s” and could not find their way back out of a city of crooks. They are not willing to help those in need but rather run over them. I do not consider those to be “Good ‘Ole Boys” but rather I refer to those types of people as “snakes in the grass”. The “Good ‘Ole Boys” are proud of their heritage, proud of their family and proud of their jobs – no matter what type it is. They are willing to help you and do what they can; they are not willing to belittle you and make you feel like an invisible person. At the same time, they like to have good fun and are just all-around good guys.

Like it or not, that is how I see it. Obviously, the term “Good ‘Ole Boys” can be both viewed in positive and negative lights. I try to see the positive in every situation. I hope that if you are one of those who likes to belittle and mislabel individuals as “Good ‘Ole Boys” who are out to harm you or those your love, I hope you will sit back for a minute and deeply consider whether you are choosing your wordage appropriately. Don’t judge others too quickly (or harshly for that matter) and don’t label everyone in one lump sum when there are differing types of people with the same personification. I am a Southern girl, born and bred, and I am very proud of it. Even though my accent might differ a little from yours and I might use sayings that are foreign to you, that’s tough turkey. It is who I am and how it will be – you can’t change Southern grit! I will keep being who I am and true to myself and will continue to be a “Good Girl” – however you want to define that!

Ending up the Photo Challenge: May 22 - 31

Day Twenty-Two: Fragile



There are a lot of fragile things that exist in our world, even though I couldn't really think of anything in particular to take a picture of. And then I went bouncing through the living room and hear china glass clanging ... Oh yeah! Mom's china cabinet and all her crystal and china! That would definitely be fragile. And if I had broken any, my life would probably have become fragile, too!

Day Twenty-Three: Scary



I will honestly admit I'm not physically scared of too many things in life. Snakes and tornadoes terrify me, but I am not about to take a picture of them. So, why not Nancy Grace? I absolutely adore Nancy Grace. You may not agree with everything she says or stands for, but at least she isn't scared to remain silent. She endured a lot in her life and it transformed her into one of the most outspoken people of our present day. However, I will admit, there are times that she absolutely has the scariest eyes when she glares into the camera. I am so thankful I was never under her cross-examination when she was a prosecutor in Atlanta!

Day Twenty-Four: Square



In reality, I really thought I had a lot of "square" things in my possession. Yet upon further examination, I realized they were all rectangular shaped. So, I happened to realize that my lamp that is like a dice did have a square shape about it. So I snapped a picture of it. Rather unique little lamp that was found in the trash bin!

Day Twenty-Five: Tool I Use



I often use a variety of tools -- hammers, axes, shovels, etc. I might be a self-proclaimed Southern Belle, but I don't mind getting my hands dirty and working on things. However, my favorite tool is one of my several knives. They are always quite useful for opening boxes or packages. Always have to remember now to be careful not to throw it in my purse because you never know where you might get searched now.

Day Twenty-Six: Sunshine



I love some sunshine! I especially love those warm summer days where you can ride around with the windows down and soak up the sun and the heat! I snapped a bright picture of the sun through the sunroof of my car -- kind of appropriate, right?

Day Twenty-Seven: Cheerful



After finishing Phil Robertson's book "Happy, Happy, Happy", I literally was smiling. What an uplifting book! While people think of the Robertson's solely now as the people from Ducky Dynasty, they are much more than that. Everyone needs to read Phil's book, and it will leave you feeling cheerful at the end!

Day Twenty-Eight: Knick-Knack



I have plenty of knick-knacks sitting all around. These are just a sampling of the few that I have on display.

Day Twenty-Nine: Piece of Furniture



This is one of my all-time favorite pieces of furniture we own. It was one of my Great-Great Grandfather's, so needless to say, it is quite old!

Day Thirty: Rug



We don't have a lot of rugs and even this one, I really consider it a "mat" moreso than a rug. But, it will just have to do!

Day Thirty-One: In/On My Hand



I used to be bad about writing or drawing on my hand...sometimes I still do make notes as it's an easy place for a reminder. But, I always try to wear some rings, as well --mainly my thumb ring and of course my college class ring from Campbell!

Photos for Days 17-21

Well, thanks to the workload picking up in the office, I have gotten a little bit behind in my blog posts. So, for today, I will just do a catch-up of the ones I have failed to document.

Day Seventeen -- Favorite Song



For someone like me who absolutely loves all kinds of music, it is nearly impossible to choose a favorite song. Sure, there are songs on my playlist that I do play over and over, but to say that I necessarily have one song that is my absolute favorite is probably hard to define. As I was driving, a few of my favorite songs did come on the satellite radio so I quickly snapped a few. I love Paul McCartney and I love the Beatles so it just so happened that two of their songs came on. And I decided to let them be the feature. That's not to say they are my absolute favorite because as I write this now one of my favorite Mumford & Sons' songs is playing. So, just give me music 24/7 and I will be pacified. If I don't like the song, I will just skip it or change the channel!

Day Eighteen -- Messy



Even though my Mom may often tell me that my room is "messy" (which I never think it is), I do not really like messiness. My desk at work must be clean when I leave at the end of the day. When I'm working on a scrapbook project, even if I have not finished it, everything must be put back up on the shelf in neat, pristine order. Okay, maybe I am a little OCD. So what do I choose for a "messy" themed photo. Well, how about going to a Durham Bulls' baseball game on a beautiful evening and then suddenly the bottom falls out. The gorgeous green field turned into a semi-pond. Water was standing ankle deep in places. But even though it turned out to be a messy evening, it was a still a fun one!

Day Nineteen -- Plastic



These days nearly everywhere you turn, you encounter something plastic -- plastic bottles, plastic containers, plastic utensils -- you name it, plastic exists. But one of my favorite things plastic (aside from a Diet Coke bottle) is plastic bags! Weird, random, yes, I know. BUT usually those plastic bags are filled with goodies because that means you can go shopping! I ventured down to Smithfield, Selma and Clayton (Johnston County, Lord help me, Jesus!) and did a little shopping on the weekend. And I filled my plastic bags with some treasures! Nothing better!

Day Twenty -- In The Morning



When I get up in the morning to get ready to start my day, the last thing on my mind is taking a picture or finding something to document. Alas, I awaited until I go to work and just decided to take an easy picture of myself and my outfit for that morning. Yes, I cheated and didn't make it nearly as fun and adventurous, but oh well!

Day Twenty-One -- Up High



Sadly, I'm not in the mountains so I can't give you a beautiful photo of the mountains that are high in the sky that I love so dearly. Nor did I encounter a plane flying overhead during the day. So, I ended up attempting to take a picture of the moon last night as it was climbing high into the sky.

"When I Look To The Sky..."

One thing I like about springtime is that the weather is USUALLY so relaxing and the sun is beaming so that you want to just stay outside and enjoy it. The days are beginning to get longer, so you are able to spend more time outdoors. (Well, except for a few weeks here when we didn't see the sun for over a week and the temperatures remained in the 50s/60s. I stayed indoors bundled up like an Eskimo, ha!). Springtime is when we see all the flowers budding and the grass is returning to green and of course the lovely pollen and allergies pay us a visit, as well. But you just want to get outside and enjoy it! Take some time this Spring to enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Take time to stop and smell the roses, or my favorites the lilacs! Don't let time rush by, just stop, even for a second, and look around and be absorbed with what awaits you outside!

Day Fifteen -- Outdoors



I nearly had forgotten to take a picture of the great "outdoors." So, while I was sitting on the back deck reading Pat Summitt's autobiography, I decided I would just snap a shot of a portion of our backyard. The grass is growing and everything just looks so peaceful. I enjoy sometimes just sitting on the deck gazing out across the fields and down through the woods. There is always something new that can catch out eyes. Just look!


Day Sixteen -- Sky



Living in North Carolina, we are often blessed with some beautiful "sky days." Recently, I was outside playing basketball and had tossed the ball up into the air and realized "hey, that's pretty cool looking -- the basketball and the beautiful blue sky." So, I devised a plan where I could try to capture that. This is my favorite basketball -- it's not just because it's a Nike Elite Women's Basketball, but it's also the Kay Yow Cancer Fund Basketball. And the ironic thing about this picture, while I am holding the basketball upwards facing the sky, I know Coach Yow is up in Heaven smiling down upon her -- her full name was Sandra Kay Yow, SKY! How cool is that?

Take time to enjoy what's around you. Don't let it pass by. Just glance around you and smile. It does help you feel better!

Memories that last a lifetime...

In one way or another, our lives are full of memories. It could be something simple as cherished items we received for our birthdays or maybe something given to us by our ancestors. Those memories we hold near and dear to our hearts, and often times those memories will last a lifetime. Sure, there are good memories and sadly there are bad memories. And try as you might, it's hard to shake the bad ones. But, we have to get to a point in our life where we just move forward and let the good memories wash over ourselves and replace those bad memories. When I realized the photo for Day Fourteen was to be about a "Memory", I became a little conflicted. I have so many amazing memories and could not pick just one to display, nor could I really decide what I wanted to focus on -- did I want to use my memories of game day at Tennessee (football and basketball), basketball games overall, gifts I had recieved, etc. I ended up just going through my phone and capturing a few of my favorite moments that I have had meeting with a variety of people. Below is some information about each person and my encounter! Make your memories last a lifetime!

Day 14 -- Memory



Governor Beverly Perdue, Raleigh, North Carolina (2011) -- For me, 2011 was NOT a good year. I tragically lost my job and that is a memory that still carries a bitter taste in my mouth. But, on the contrary, when I look back at 2011, I also think of two extreme highlights in my life -- meeting Governor Beverly Perdue TWICE! Ever since I was a little girl, I adored Bev Perdue. Many of you hate her and guess what, I don't care. No, I didn't agree with all her political stances, but I viewed her as a female who did not let the word "no" deter her from accomplishing goals in her life. I had always wanted to meet her, yet I never could figure out how to get to see her one-on-one. Until she and her staffer literally walked right in to me in downtown Raleigh while at the Naismith Awards. I was immediately encaptured by her beautiful, sparkling blue eyes. What an amazing moment! She was gracious enough to not only have her photo made with us, but also spend a little time talking about fashion. My favorite part was when she commented on how she liked my 'fascinator' to which she followed up by telling me, genuinely, that I looked "fascinating." To say I was on a cloud the rest of that evening was an understatement. I later met her again in December at the Governor's Mansion. What a fun year! Dreams and wishes do come true -- never give up, they will turn into memories that you cherish and hold dear.

Tony Tata, Garner, North Carolina (2013) -- Meeting Tony Tata was a great highlight for November 2013. I might have turned 30 that month, but it was not all that bad. I had read all three of Tony's military thrillers and had asked him if I could get them signed. He graciously met up with me and signed all three books, as well as had a photo made. What an awesome guy he is. He served our country proudly in the U.S. Army for many years before working in the DC Public Schools, as well as here in Wake County. Sadly, we witnessed a horrible decision when he was forced to leave Wake County, but thankfully, he is still able to serve our state now as the Secretary of Transportation. Such an honorable man! And you definitely need to read his books -- they are incredible!

Rhonda Vincent, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (2012) -- When it comes to Bluegrass music, no one does it better than Rhonda Vincent. Growing up, I was not an avid fan of Bluegrass. My Dad loved torturing me on long road trips by playing it non-stop, and then Heaven forbid when we got to Tennessee, we had to go to the gazebo each night for Blugrass shows. Over the years, I grew up and my mindset towards Blugrass music began to mellow. While we were at Dollywood last June for Barbecue & Bluegrass Festival, we saw Rhonda Vincent in concert three times. She was incredible. Maybe it was her wearing Tennessee Volunteer Orange and her splendid rendition of "Rocky Top" that changed my opinion, but I immediately became a fan. One thing that I noticed about Rhonda is how humble and down-to-earth she is. She always makes time to meet with her fans after concerts. That to me speaks volumes. In 2012, we saw her in concert more than five times, and have already seen her perform in 2013, as well. She is definitely one that you should go see in concert and follow on Twitter and Facebook. I love Rhonda!

Chris Dailey, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (2012) -- Well, 2012 was obviously the good year for making lots of good memories. When you get wind that UConn is coming to town to play someone, you go! It doesn't matter who they are playing, it's UConn and that's a big name in women's basketball. We got tickets from Duke for the game. I had NO idea that my seats would literally be at the end of the UConn team bench. I sat right beside their Gatorade coolers. I had a bird's eye view of the team bench, the team huddles during time-outs. I was practically in Heaven. Yet, I looked like a fool with my Duke gear on. Seriously, what was I thinking -- Duke didn't stand a chance at beating UConn, but yet I wore Duke blue. Wow, how times have changed. A few years ago, I would've probably sat there wearing Tennessee orange because my sheer hatred for UConn and Geno Auriemma was so immense. But one person helped to change all that, and that one person I was fortunate enough to meet after the game -- UConn Associate Head Coach, Chris Dailey. Though my hatred for UConn was intense, I had always admired Chris Dailey from afar. She was the epitome of fashion -- absolute perfect in every sense. She has been loyal and faithful to the same program for almost 30 years, even turning down opportunities to be a Head Coach herself. In my opinion, she IS the glue that holds UConn together, yet she often remains in the shadows of Geno Auriemma, even though she does tower about three inches over him! Not many people intimidate me, but for whatever reason, Chris did. Little did I know, that in 2013, I would receive a handwritten note from Chris in the mail; and less than a month later, she was in my hometown, where I ended up spending around 15 minutes one-on-one with her talking basketball, fashion and beyond. She is a very genuine person, very humble and caring. She is a role model for many young women. I am thankful for the time she spent with me, it was a highlight of my life! Next time, I will get a better picture and I will NOT be wearing Duke!

Kim Mulkey, University of Texas, Austin, Texas (2012) -- A week before I met Chris Dailey at Duke, I was out in Austin, Texas, visiting my cousin Amanda. We went to the Texas vs. Baylor women's game. Lo and behold, I was able to meet Kim Mulkey (Head Coach from Baylor University) after the game. She remembered who I was from an e-mail I had sent her regarding her book she had written. It was such an incredible experience to be down on the court with an individual who has won the NCAA Championship as a player, assistant coach and head coach. She is very funny, as well. We joked about how unlike Louisiana and North Carolina, Texas was flat and had no trees! I was so proud when Baylor went on to win the 2012 NCAA National Championship and win it by setting a record of going 40-0!

Nora Lynn Finch, Raleigh, North Carolina (2009) -- Saving the best for last ... that would be Nora Lynn Finch, one of my heroes since I was a child. She has been featured/mentioned in many of my blogs. But the first time I ever truly talked to Nora Lynn was in 2009 at the NCAA Super Regionals hosted at the PNC Arena in Raleigh. I was floored at how kind she was and how much she genuinely cared about people. She climbed OVER the hockey wall to come up into the stands to speak to me and ask me about myself. I was just overwhelmed. Over the past few years, we have gotten to know each other better, and I can honestly tell you, had you told me when I was a little girl that one of my heroes would know me by name and speak to me/call out to me by name at a game, I would have just laughed. But it's the truth, each time I see her, she waves and speaks and says hello to me personally, and often greets you with a warm hug. While she may no longer be working at NC State and even though her title of "Associate Commissioner" of the ACC would leave you to believe she is this high-minded individual, she is quite the opposite. She is a very busy individual who is devoted to her job 100%, yet she still has a heart that cares for others and she does what she can to help them in any way. We need more people in America like her!

My Mom, Teddy & Lynda Carter ??

I am getting behind a little in my Photo-a-Day Challenge blogposts, so let me do another two in one to catch up!

Day Twelve -- Mom



May 12th was indeed Mother's Day, so how appropriate the photo of the day was to feature our Mom's! I had already made a photo collage to post on my Mom's Facebook page as her gift, so I had to come up with another to meet the challenge. So, while Mom and I were en route to Grandpa's house for the afternoon, I decided to snap a picture of us. I am so thankful for my Mom. She is so awesome! There is so much more I could say about her, but I have already done so in a prior blog.



I actually did post two photos for the challenge that day. The first was obviously my real, birth mother. The second photo was of an individual who many have questioned whether she might be my mother, Lynda Carter aka Wonder Woman. Many people have often made the statement that "you look just like Wonder Woman!" I have always shook my head and said I just did not see it. Maybe it was because I was thinking of the cartoon/animated Wonder Woman vs. the real one portrayed by the elegant Lynda Carter. So, I finally said to myself "okay, to prove them wrong, I will post a picture of myself and Lynda Carter." Welllllllll...I think I might see why people often say that. There are quite a few noticeable comparisons and similarities. I think the main thing is the dark hair and blue eyes. But either way, I'll adopt Lynda Carter as my other Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to both!

Day Thirteen -- Friend



Friends come in all shapes and sizes. My ultimate friend is my dog, Zoey Katherine. Sometimes I often go out to the pin and let her run throughout the yard just as carefree as she wants. She has matured a lot in her old age, as she stays close by me more than she used to take off on her adventures. I still miss my old pal Marlowe -- he was the best dog I have ever been blessed to have known. I do see why they often say that dogs are man's best friend. That is so true. But, while, I should have posted a picture of maybe me and Zoey or Marlowe, Zoey hates having her picture made so I had to look elsewhere. I was doing a massive Spring cleaning in my room and I ran across Teddy. He has been with me for almost 30 years! And while I no longer sleep with him (as he obviously needs a lot of help in the stuffing department), he is still one I want to keep and cherish, even IF my mother said "let's get rid of him" -- how dare she!!

Sunsets Galore!

Day Eleven -- Sunset

Isn't it absolutely amazing how beautiful sunrises and sunsets truly can be? Most often, I do not see the sun rise as I am either usually getting dressed for work or asleep, but I do try to catch the sun setting as often as I can. Unlike my Dad, who loves catching both sunrises and sunsets on camera (and he does a splendid job of it, as well), I don't often capture as many as he does nor at the quality he can see them in. The sunsets pictured here are taken in a variety of places and they are all different. From left to right, here is the sunset location and mini-background info:



Mystic Seaport Lighthouse, Mystic, Connecticut -- We had free passes from Coca~Cola to tour the Mystic Seaport and we stayed nearly all day long. As we went back in the evening, I took a quick snap of the sun peering over on the right behind the lighthouse.

Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee -- Ahh, I just love this picture or maybe it's just because of how much I love the Smokies. But, I happened to be riding down the street and glanced up at beautiful Mount LeConte and there is an amazing sun setting high above the peaks of the Smoky Mountains. What a majestic looking sight!

Meredith's Backyard, Raleigh, North Carolina -- Honestly, I am not 100% certain of the location of this photo, but I do believe it was at home. I just looked up and thought it looked angelic ... almost like Heaven had opened its doors and wanted to speak to us. Just serene!

Flying High over Texas, Just outside of Austin, Texas -- I flew out to see my cousin in Austin, Texas, on a late afternoon flight. I had never been to Texas to realize just how FLAT everything is! But as we were approaching Austin to land, I looked out the window and caught the sun setting along the horizon. It was absolutely breath-taking. There is something to be said about seeing the sun set from above and it was unbelieveable!

Barefoot Landing Harbor, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina -- Mom and I had been walking in the shops at Barefoot Landing when Dad decided to drift back to the Harbor where many of the large boats and yachts will dock to come to shop and stay over at Barefoot Resort. We happened to walk back just in time to catch the sun setting just over the Intracoastal Waterway. Splendid!

Sunset at Sunset Beach, North Carolina -- How appropriate or maybe how ironic to capture one of my most favorite sunset photos at a places known as Sunset Beach?!? Maybe that is why it received the name Sunset Beach because the sun setting makes it appear as if it sinking down into the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, which is where we usually see it rise up from. Either way, what a pleasant photo!

Mystic River, Mystic, Connecticut -- So, I tried to portray a variety of sunsets in different locations, but Connecticut is awarded with two sunset photos. The town of Mystic is built right along the banks of the Mystic River, and I absolutely fell in love with this place. It is so calm and scenic. I just love listening to the hum of the boats in the river heading out toward the Long Island Sound and soon the great Atlantic. I loved the sounds from the old shipyard as they were working to restore and repair giant Tall Ships. The hustle and bustled along the riverwalk heading toward the tourist section of town. Aside from the cold, snowy winters of Connecticut, this is a place I could easily move. And, of course, they have amazing sunsets. I loved this one. The sun setting over the Mystic River with the reflection bouncing off the river's waters

Looking for Something New...how about some Sugary Sunglasses?

Something borrowed, something blue...

Something old, something new...

And some things are just a little bit sugary, too!

Okay, ask any of my English teachers in school, and they will quickly tell you I struggled when it came to poetry. One would've thought since my Dad has an English degree that I might be a little more proficient when it came to poetry, but ehhhhh....no! Honestly, I've never really enjoyed reading poetry, much less writing it. Something about poetry, while at times it can encapturing, just doesn't really do much for me in comparison to a short story where I can get real involved and even develop my own sub-plotlines. (Yes, at times, my imagine tends to get the best of me!)

Oh yeah, back to the topic at hand ... the Photo-a-Day Challenge ... sorry, see how my mind wanders!

Day Eight -- Sugary



Trying to lose weight and get in better shape really stinks, especially when all you are craving is something with some sugar in it. Of course, my most favorite things that is "sugary" are Krispy Kreme doughnuts. But, there is no way on earth, that I can get over to the KK and only get ONE doughnut. That is basically like giving a drunk just one drink. You can't just eat one Krispy Kreme! So, in the process of cutting back, I still managed to find some brownies. "Reduced Fat Brownies" just don't sound very appealling. Mom made them while I was working, and they were decent. I didn't eat very many because they had a unique taste and plenty of sweet sugary-ness. But, boy, oh boy, what I would do for a KK right now. When I lose 10 pounds, I will treat myself to a Krispy Kreme doughnut or two or three or fourteen, just kidding! (I still have two pounds to go!)

Day Nine -- Sunglasses



These past few weeks, there really hasn't been any reason to wear our sunglasses here in North Carolina. There have been times in the past week where I seriously pondered whether I had moved over to Seattle because we were constantly cloudy and rainy. Thankfully, in the past few days, the clouds dissipated and the sun evolved. What a beautiful sight it has been, even if the temperatures are soaring! I love the heat, so I am not going to complain. I have probably 15 pair of sunglasses (yes, they used to have to match each outfit), but I mainly stick with my one pair, which many of my friends often refer to as my "Terminator" shades and I do NOT like being compared to Arnold (I won't even dare get off on that rant) But, I am grateful for my shades because many times I have to wear them even if it's cloudy outside -- my vision is soooooo wonderful (sarcasm galore!) But I am so thankful for the sun shining bright so I have a reason to wear my sunglasses!

Day Ten -- Something New



Don't we all love getting something new? I know I surely do, but I have been trying to monitor my budget a little more closely thanks to having to pay some higher taxes this year. But such is life. Even then, I still want to get something new. Recently, Tracey and I stopped by Bath & Body Works on our lunch break and they had just debuted their new Italian line. Lord help me when it comes to things that are Italian :-) So we tried out a few samples and I ended up getting a few different kinds. My favorites by far are Venice Dolce Berry and Rome Honeysuckle Amore, which I find absolutely heavenly! I particularly like the Rome Amore and the spray I bought has the sparlkes in it -- so I feel like a glistening Italian when I spray it on me :-)

"Flashback" to 1932 & 1936

As most of you have seen, I have been doing a series on basketball and the coaches and their attire during the game. Of course, we all know that my love for basketball abounds. I've always ponderd why I really adored basketball so much, and if you happened to miss my prior blog about "Why Basketball Matters" (http://mescarlett414.blogspot.com/2013/02/why-basketball-matters.html), I tried to explain why I felt basketball had made a difference in my life. But even with that, where did my passion come from? Sure, a deep admiration for Coach Kay Yow, but prior to that, as with other things, I believe it was in my blood.

Day Seven -- Flashback



Basketball runs in my family. My Mom's brothers played basketball. But, even long before that, my Grandmother, Louise Sorrell (Foster) and her sister, my Great Aunt, Maydelle Sorrell (Williams) both played basketball on their girls high school team at Garner. My, oh my, how basketball has changed over the years. Who ever would have thought that there was a high school girl's basketball team back in the early to mid 1930s!!! That's almost unrealistic to think about. My Granny always wanted me to play basketball, but as you know from my previous blog entry, I was unable to play due to a shoulder surgery. But even then, their passion lived on throughout me. I only wish now that I could have more time to ask them about them playing. I know how my tough my Maydelle was -- to look at her, she as very stylish but she didn't take any junk from you. You make her mad, and you better run because you didn't push her around. And to think about her and Granny playing, wow, I wish we had video of those good 'ole days. But I will cherish these photos that I have found because that just inspires me to continue to support basketball and keep Maydelle & Louise's dream alive!

"Today", there is an "empty" bottle of "water" that is "on my desk!"

Well, I am a little bit behind in my May Photo-a-Day Challenge blog posts. So, I guess, those of you who care to read, will be caught up with Days 3, 4, 5 and 6!

Day Three -- Empty



When you think of the word "empty," what's the first thing that comes to mind? A lot of different things probably do -- your car "running on E", an empty drink/water bottle or sadly, even an empty wallet! For day three, I tried to capture a variety of "empty" things that I encountered throughout the day. Maggie's (the cat) empty food bowl -- it might've been eaten by the neighbor's critters or her, who knows!; an empty car that Mom & Dad had just evacuated from; an empty mailbox -- I sure was hoping for a special letter!; an empty rocking chair -- too cool out to be rocking around; an empty park bench along the my serene walking path; the exact mileage until my Explorer runs completely empty!; an empty Diet Coke bottle -- that has to be the saddest sight of all; an empty red box that adorns my London collection on my desk at work; and two empty cups of just plain nothing! In a way, it's rather sad how many "empty" things we encounter during our normal day. But, let's just hope none of us have empty hearts -- make sure they are filled with love for all!

Day Four -- Water



Many days, I wish I lived on the water -- whether it would be the ocean, river, lake, sound, bay, it would not matter. I just think the water has a calming and soothing affect upon you. I remember when we went up to Mystic, Connecticut, and toured the Mystic Seaport. That was such a unique experience and such a peaceful place. Listening to the sounds of the shipyard, the hum of the boats going up and down the Mystic River. I wouldn't mind living in Mystic or even down in Wilmington, North Carolina. Such beautiful abounds on the water. For day four, while I was trekking around the park, I came upon a little hidden trail that butted up along the backside of the mini "lake" that is the center of the park. I tried to snap a photo, but it didn't turn out quite like I had hoped. Either way, it was still such a beautiful walk along the water's edge.

Day Five -- On My Desk



When it comes to things on my desk, many of you know, I do NOT like clutter and junk all over my desk. Each day before I head home from work, I try to have my desk looking almost pristine. I don't like to come in the next morning and be faced with a pile of work. I want to get as much done as I possibly can each day. And much is the same for the computer work desk at home. I prefer it to be clean and empty. I need my space to be able to move the keyboard where I need it to be. The only desk space of mine that might be slightly cluttered would probably be my scrapbooking table. But even then, I try to keep it tidy and only leave out what I am currently working on or absolutely need. Maybe I am a little OCD at times!

Day Six -- Today



I wasn't really sure exactly what the topic "today" entailed, and I obviously, wasn't quite that creative when I came up with my "drawing." Initially, I was going to put all my calenders together and circle/highlight today's date, but even that, still wasn't very creative. So, I ended up just resorting to writing out today's date in a variety of colors. Sorry I couldn't come up with anything better! But here's hoping that everyone has a wonderful day today!

Day Two -- Off the Beaten Path

Day Two -- Path



Don't we all have those days where you just want to get out and explore? Lord knows, lately, I have had more of those days than I have cared for. But, many times, it is great to just get out and about and take the path less travelled. We never know where we may end up.

My cousin has made some wonderful paths/trails back in the woods behind the house. Sometimes, I just like to take Zoey and go for a walk through the woods. Not really looking for anything in particular or doing anything, but just to get out and about and enjoy some fresh air.

Often times, when we are on vacation in places that may not be as familiar to us as our hometown, we may take sideroads (or paths) and take an adventure to find something new. The spontaneity that brings can be quite enjoyable as many times when you are taking the path less travelled, you usually come upon something that you least expected. I can't tell you how many times when we have been up in the "hills of Tennessee" we have taken so many little side, tight-winding roads and have always found some unique place that we will go back and venture.

So, live life on the edge a little. Venture down a side road or take a walk down an unknown path (as long as it seems safe!) and see what adventure awaits you! Be open minded and ready for a new experience!

Photo-A-Day Challenge

Since I am taking a miniature hiatus from "The Coaches' Collection" series, I figured I would attempt do to the Photo-a-Day Challenge that I did back in December again. Of course, for May, we have different topics that we are supposed to capture on a daily basis. Those of you who know me know that I love to take pictures and many have often told me I am very creative, whereas I beg to differ. So, I will do my best to try to come up with some unique captures for my photos of the day! However, I don't intend to probably post a daily blog either. I will try my hardest to get a picture or so up, but they may be a day late and a dollar short, ha, as most of the photos I may take for that day are often captured after work hours.

But I have already taken a photo for day one and granted, I could have been much, much more creative and chosen to take some pictures of some of the lovely colorful azaleas displayed in my North Carolina home, but I opted for simplicity (and not to mention, I took it while I was driving to work this morning!)

Day One -- Colorful



We live in a brightly colorful world. Everywhere we look, we encounter a beautiful assortment of colors. The word "color" automatically makes me think of the song by Dolly Parton "God's Coloring Book". And in so many ways, this world is almost like a coloring book. It makes you wonder when God created our planet, did he have an assortment of Crayola markers coloring things here and there. Obviously, He did not, but it is an awesome image to think about. Either way, we are so blessed with color. If we lived in a black and white or grey world, that would just be dull and dreer. I am so glad we have been blessed with abundant color. So rather than choose some of this wonderful color to exhibit here today, I chose to take the easy route. I was driving to work and looking at all the colorful azaleas in bloom and spring flowers blossoming. Sure, I could have and actually did ponder stopping to take a picture, but Heaven forbid, I be late to work! So I glanced over in my passenger seat and there sits my bag of many colors, so once I pulled into my parking space at work, I had to take a snap. And there you have it, Day One's entry of "Colorful" -- my bag of many colors. Hey!, at least you can take it with nearly any outfit you wear (ha, reference "The Coaches' Collection!").

Try to bring a little color into someone's life each day -- it could be a compliment about their wardrobe or just a friendly hello. The world lately has been overcast with doom and gloom, so let's brighten it up a little and spread some color amongst our family, friends, neighbors and even those we do not know.

The Coaches’ Collection: Classy Champions

**Remember to click on the photos to view them in a larger size!!**

Quite honestly, it is hard to believe the 2012-2013 NCAA Women’s Basketball season is over, and a big congratulations goes out to the UConn Huskies’ on claiming their eighth title. (I could write more about my thoughts surrounding that, but I will save that for a future blog!) But, while I did not attend quite as many games as I did during the 2011-2012 season (I was just three shy!), I was able to go to a variety of games and really made some lasting memories this season. For now, I will make one final entry into “The Coaches’ Collection” blog series. Oh!, trust me, I have many, many more photos to share, but I think I will take a hiatus and save some for next season, which I trust will be as exciting, if not better than this year! But, though I am taking a hiatus from “The Coaches’ Collection”, that does not mean I am not going to keep blogging. There is no telling what I may think of next! So, pay attention as you may learn some more random facts from Meredith’s House of Useless Knowledge and Information!

Since we are on the topic of championships, I figured I would close out the blog with the ultimate showdown between our reigning fashion champions. The previous blogs have pretty much already laid the foundation for who our top contenders are; so, now it is up to you to decide who wins the ultimate championship: Muffet McGraw from the University of Notre Dame or Chris Dailey from the University of Connecticut. The decision rests in your hands…Let’s Go!!


I honestly cannot think of another word to describe Muffet McGraw other than classy! She just absolutely epitomizes the word whether it is from her fashion or just her overall personality and coaching style – she is just plain classy! For the majority of the games that Muffet coaches, we find her in her prowess squat along the sideline, and it absolutely amazes me how she can just stay in “squat position” for most of the game rotating from side-to-side. My knees ache just thinking about it. With that being the case, Muffet has to dress quite conservatively, but yet she also makes her conservative outfits quite classy. She can wear a simple black skirt and dress it up with a nice shirt and colorful accessories; or as pictured here, she can wear a nicely colored dress with a belt and scarf to accessorize and she pulls it off quite nicely. It’s never really over the top; it is just simple yet classed up with accessories. We have already previously documented how she is probably one of the only coaches who can pull any type of animal print off and wear it in dramatic fashion, as well as being capable of wearing leather and not looking too tasteless. In “The Coaches’ Collection”, Muffet has probably been featured more than any other person for being the positive light in our mostly negative world of outfits. You can always count on Muffet McGraw to look very fashionable along the sideline of a game. I am going to award Muffet the nickname “The Classy Cat” because she is always classy no matter what she wears and she can wear the “big cat” animal prints and pull them off flawlessly. Props to Muffet McGraw for another great season at Notre Dame; looking forward to actually seeing her a lot more during the 2013-2014 season as Notre Dame joins my home-state conference, the Atlantic Coast (ACC)! And, we all know what that means…more photos for the blog!


So, if classy is my word to define Muffet McGraw, what can I possibly use to describe Chris Dailey, who I have self-proclaimed “The Coaches’ Collection’s” ultimate fashionista? Well, she can be described in so many flattering ways, but for now, I will settle on elegant. Okay, that’s not really a word you would associate with basketball, but it is what she is – absolutely graceful, well-put-together, super stylish, gorgeous and elegant. When I get to be her age, I only hope I can look half as good as she does. The times Chris (better known as CD) has been featured in the blog, it has always been in our positive class; as I have yet to find an outfit of hers that was absolutely distasteful – now, there have been a few that I have pondered whether she should have worn or I had some concern over the color choice washing her out, but she still manages to throw on some accessories somewhere and reclaim the lead in the fashion race. Whether it is pink or leather or heck, maybe even animal print, CD can literally pull off anything. Over the years that I have been following UConn Women’s Basketball, it has been a rare occasion that I have ever seen CD repeat an outfit – I would LOVE to take a tour of her closet one day! One could easily question whether some of these coaches have someone help them with their attire? Some may, but I have been told by a source that Chris Dailey picks out her own clothes and designs her own outfits with matching accessories. That is a top-notch, class-act of a person and one who can do it absolutely with perfection. From dresses to skirts to pants with cute shirts, no matter what CD throws together, it looks amazing on her perfectly trim and toned frame. And, of course, I absolutely love it when she wears her pink bracelet! These photos here are just a few of the collection of photos that I have of Chris Dailey – she seems to love wearing a lot of black and grey, which I think look great on her. I also think the royal blues look good with her skin tone, as well. If I were here, I would try to stay away from the beige that she likes to wear, as sometimes it does kind of make her look washed out. Stick with the black, grey and white; add in a little more blue and of course keep the pink!

So, just by the length of my write-up, you can probably easily figure that I would hand the championship trophy right on over to Chris Dailey. But, what about you – would you choose Chris Dailey or Muffet McGraw?

And, while we are on the subject of National Championships, let’s close the blog out with the coaching duo who always seems to just flow effortlessly on the sidelines of the basketball court – Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey.


When it comes to National Championships, Geno and Chris are two of the best – claiming their eighth title together this year in New Orleans and that is absolutely unbelievable. During games, we do not always get to see Chris Dailey’s incredible fashion sense until Geno gets out of hand and she has to go chasing him down to court to keep him from getting a technical or getting tossed (her worst nightmare!). But, together, they not only make up one best coaching duos (aka “power couple”) of today’s basketball era, but together, they also combine for the best dressed coaching duo that exists. They are often referred to as the Donna Karan and Giorgio Armani of basketball – now that, in and of itself, is a huge compliment! Whether it is on the court or off the court at other functions, you can always count on Geno and CD to be there and be dressed to the nines. Props to them for winning eight and looking great while doing it!

So there you have it…the few samplings of my thoughts regarding fashion in Women’s Basketball. Not a lot of detail goes in to it because I just cannot keep on writing and writing, plus you probably don’t really want to keep reading it. Maybe someone, somewhere out there has enjoyed this series and shared a few laughs at times. As I said, for now I will take a temporary hiatus until basketball season resumes again, but keep on reading because you never know what might come up next.

The Coaches’ Collection: (Slightly Off-Topic) – Decades later, Mama’s STILL in the Family

How many of you remember watching the TV show “Mama’s Family” featuring the extremely hilarious Vicki Lawrence who played endearing Thelma Harper? Mama Harper was one of the funniest characters on TV. She made you laugh with her stories and jokes, but most of all, she made you laugh with the way she dressed – the hair, the stockings rolled down to her ankles, the dresses, etc. She was a hoot!

During the 2012-2013 basketball season, we discovered that in some aspects, Mama Harper still exists. She has been spotted most recently perched along the sidelines or lingering somewhere in the stands at Reynolds Coliseum. Who would have thought that Thelma Harper would have made it all the way to Raleigh, North Carolina, from good ‘ole Raytown…or could it be possible that she has a look-a-like or twin?

Oh wait!! That’s not Thelma Harper after all; it’s Debbie Yow from NC State!

As many of you know, I absolutely adore Debbie Yow and have spent time talking with her and her husband at several basketball games. Debbie is a lot like her sister, Kay, in that she tries to speak to everyone and takes time to talk to people. Yet, at the same time, Debbie is all business. If there is something she wants, she will get it. She lays down the law and set her rules and guidelines that she anticipates being met. And when they aren’t met, adios amigos – that’s all she wrote! (Haven’t we witnessed that already three times recently?!?) Debbie doesn’t take anyone’s mess; she stands her grown and stands firm. That’s one reason I really admire her. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty and get down to business.

Because of Debbie being so business-oriented, which there is absolutely nothing wrong with, she obviously doesn’t have time to focus on her attire. She does indeed always dress very business-like with her business suits however, most of the choices she makes are quite out-dated. Thankfully though, she typically does wear the red and black to at least support the school she works for (can’t say that for some other administrators!). Then there’s the hair, the glasses, the make-up that just makes her blend. I think the glasses and hair is what made us realize she reminds us too much of Mama Harper, and maybe her gruffness, as well. Debbie is not out to make a fashion statement, trust me, I know that; nor in reality, does she need to make the fashion statement. She is the Athletics Director of a large university, she needs to dress more professional and business. I just think she needs to get out of the past decades and come on up to the more recent ones – new hairstyle, stylish glasses and maybe some more modern type business suits.

Absolutely nothing against Debbie, and I don’t mean her any ill-regard because of this. It’s just an observation that a lot of us fans have noted. When NC State first hired her, I wasn’t so keen on that idea. But, as time has progressed, I think they made an excellent decision. She has put her foot down where it needed to be; she’s making improvements, as well. And best of all, she actually shows up at the games! No matter the sport, Debbie Yow will be there supporting the Wolfpack. I can’t say that for her predecessor, who I may have seen on campus once.



PS: Linda, if you are reading this, well, this one is really for you! Since you helped me come up with the realization of the similarities between Debbie & Thelma! Hope you enjoy!

PSS: Kim, if you are reading this, don’t hate me. You know I still love Debbie, and you have to protect me next season in case she whacks me at the game!

The Coaches' Collection: Think Before You Pink!

**Click on the images for a larger view**

When I think of women’s college basketball, I am so often reminded of why I began to absolutely fall in love with the sport and that was due in part to legendary Head Coach Kay Yow. What a legacy Coach Yow has left, not only for women’s basketball and all sports, but for individuals in general. A lady who faced so many struggles in life, yet she mustered up the strength and courage to keep pressing forward. Her legacy lives on, not only forever imprinted in the hallowed halls of Reynolds Coliseum and throughout the university of North Carolina State, but her legacy now also lives on through the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Each year, primarily in the month of February, universities throughout the nation host “Play4Kay” games where proceeds raised from admission sales or other fundraisers the schools hold go directly to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. It is also during these “Play4Kay” games where you see the teams wear their pink uniforms and shoes, as well as their coaches adorning themselves in various shades of pink. These gestures really bring a smile to my heart, as the Kay Yow Cancer Fund is an organization that is very dear to me. I try to go to a few of the “Play4Kay” games myself, and even when the “Play4Kay” games are over, I will still occasionally wear my pink – and nothing warms me more than to see coaches wearing their pink, long after the “Play4Kay” games have ended. In a way, it’s hard to critique the coaches and their attire when they are wearing pink, since it holds such a symbolic meaning; yet, as with anything else, there are times when the pink is overkill, too much, doesn’t match, etc., but there are those select few who can wear it and make me even more proud. So, let’s examine a few of our individuals who have donned their pink during “Play4Kay” and even after “Play4Kay” but still supporting the cause!


We all know it wouldn’t be appropriate to have a “Coaches Collection” entry that does not include Kim Mulkey, bless her heart! So I must say, that the pink shoes she wore were actually killer – I’m a huge fan of high heels and even though I am tall, yes, I will wear them myself. So I do like the pink shoes and while they do match with the pink pants, sort of, I would still say….umm…that might be pink overkill. Maybe she should’ve worn a pink top with black pants to create some distance from the pink shoes and not make the pink blend together. And, as far as the other outfits ………..well, where do I even begin? Or, what exactly is it? Do you remember those things we used to have in school where they had these random colored bubbles and hidden inside of that image was a number or letter or some object that we were supposed to find? When I look at Kim’s jacket, it reminds me of that and I find myself constantly trying to find the number “4” or something in her jacket’s pattern. At least the second time she wore the jacket, albeit during the NCAA Tournament Semi-Finals, she wore blue pants – if you’re going to wear this interestingly, splattered pattern, don’t wear it with pink pants, keep it with the blue. And I can’t even recall what color shoes she had on – there is honestly no telling. So Kim, while you really did try to support the wear pink campaign, I much preferred the outfit you wore to the Baylor/UConn “Play4Kay” game with the pink jacket trimmed in black – much more stylish than this splattered paint looking, multi-colored, unknown, indescribable jacket featured here. I’m terribly sorry Baylor lost in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, but maybe it has saved us in the long run from more fashion mishaps. (Sorry, Kim, I still do really think you are awesome!)


Part of me feels really bad to include Kellie Harper in my blog, especially since she is no longer employed with NC State University, but she still must be included. For the past two Hoops for Hope games at NC State, Kellie’s outfits were drastically different (left and right in the picture above). The pink suit on the left is very, well, pink, and adding the Mulkey-like shoes, to me, is again a bit of a pink overkill. Here, I would’ve either worn the pink suit and some other color pair of shoes, or worn the pink jacket with a black skirt and the pink shoes. Plus with Kellie’s hair color, too much pink somewhat washes her out and makes everything appear to be too plain. Then we have the photo in the middle – the black jacket with pink turtle neck—and it is actually fine – my only issue there is with the hair! Something just doesn’t seem quite right. But I will say that during the “Play4Kay” game hosted by UNC vs. NC State, Kellie was, at least, the only person on the NC State team who actually wore pink! Thanks!! And then there is this year’s Hoops for Hope outfit … the pink jacket is great; the shoes are okay; but the skirt…well it was hideous – you can’t actually see it well in the picture, but believe me, those of us sitting inside Reynolds just had to shake our heads. But all in all, Kellie did a bit better than Kim Mulkey did. I will miss seeing Kellie at NC State and wish her the best for her future.


And then there is Muffet McGraw…actually, Muffet just epitomizes pink and she pulls both of these outfits off splendidly. The simple, yet rather large, pink scarf adorned with a classy black jacket and shirt looks terrific on Muffet. The other outfit with a black skirt and jacket with the pink shirt is perfect. The black boots are a little questionable, but I think they are passable. She balances her pink out with other colors – she isn’t “pink heavy” meaning – she isn’t wearing all pink, she’s mixing it with other colors to try to balance it out, and it works. I was initially concerned with Muffet wearing pink, as I was fearful that it might clash with her hair color, and while it obviously doesn’t go as well as the leopard print or some other colors I have seen her wear, the pink is a nice addition. But then again, it just proves why Muffet McGraw has been ranked in the top two in The Coaches Collection series for her fashion tastes … yet, Muffet still is coming in runner-up to our ultimate fashionista…


Is it possible for Chris Dailey to ever go wrong? (Okay, maybe so, I did witness an outfit recently that caused me to shake my head and wonder if she was feeling okay). But when it comes to pink, she does it second to none – she is the best, she is and remains the fashionista for two weeks in a row! For the entire month of February, Chris wore pink – whether it was a skirt or a shirt or a bracelet, something on her was pink for the entire “Play4Kay” month, not just the UConn “Play4Kay” game. Massive props to CD for supporting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund!! In addition, she also has worn her pink several times during the post-season. That makes me proud! (And not to mention I received a note in the mail from her regarding the Kay Yow Cancer Fund!!) Anyways, Chris Dailey is a fashion icon in the basketball world. Pictured here are a variety of the pink outfits she has worn both this season and in the past few seasons. And, notice how CD NEVER wears all pink like some of our others featured above. She always coordinates the pink and the black and it looks smashing. The only one I really have issues with, yet it doesn’t even involve the pink, is the really odd pair of hose she wore a few years ago – umm, really Chris, don’t do that again! But this year she managed to get Geno in the pink wearing spirit by wearing a pink necktie TWICE – obviously at the “Play4Kay” game but even the week before when they played at Rutgers (also where CD graduated). My favorite is her pink accessories she wears, as well, in particular her breast cancer bracelet. Thanks, Chris Dailey, for your support for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and for always knowing how to pull any type of wardrobe off!

While I have never been a huge fan of the color pink, recently my wardrobe has accumulated a little bit more. I tend to wear the darker shades of pink rather than the lighter, pastel pink. But either way, I proudly wear my pink in honor and memory of those battling breast cancer. I hope and pray that one day we will be able to find a cure for this dreaded disease that has taken so many precious people away from us. Thank the Lord for the advancements in treatments that we have now, as we have seen so many women battling this disease and continuing to be survivors. I encourage each and every one of you to visis the Kay Yow Cancer Fund’s website (www.kayyow.com) and read about what an amazing organization it is. If you feel compelled, please help support this cause and keep the legacy of Coach Kay Yow alive for many, many years to come. Next year, even if you are not a women’s basketball fan.

The Coaches' Collection: Leather or Not, Here We Come!

**Reminder to click on the pictures below for an up close & personal look at the pictures!**

When it comes to leather, where do I even begin?

Okay, quite honestly, I am a personal fan of leather – to an extent. I adore my leather jackets (and I have a variety of them) and I adore my heated leather seats in my Explorer (oh yeah, that’s a different subject – sorry!); but when it comes to leather pants, skirts, shirts, etc., well that’s a different matter. Yes, I have owned a pair of leather pants (until I kept growing and they became high-waters), and recently I tried on another pair in Kohls, but again, they were too short on me. I used to own a leather skirt, too. So I really don’t have a problem with wearing and owning leather. But, I do feel there is a time and a place to appropriately wear leather. The question is – Is the sideline of a basketball court one of those places? In reality, it depends on how you wear the leather or rather what you are wearing the leather with to determine whether it is appropriate or not. Sometimes you can get by with wearing a leather skirt and a nice shirt and it looks fine; whereas other people may wear leather pants and a nice shirt and they look like…….well, I will let you fill in the gaps on that one!

So let’s examine a few occasions where I have seen some individuals wear some types of leather during basketball games, and what better place to start than with an ultimate “Duel of Leather”. There are some coaches that you just learn to expect the unexpected with their dress attire, but had you told me that in a key match-up between two “big-name” teams, that both of their head coaches would be wearing some type of leather, I would have not have anticipated that. So the “Duel of the Leather” begins…


Ladies and Gentleman, this is the main event, the one we have all been waiting for… Entering along the right sideline of the arena, hailing from Notre Dame University, weighing in wearing a black leather skirt and sea green dress shirt is the legendary head coach, Muffet McGraw! Her opponent, coming in on the left sideline of the arena, hailing from Baylor University, weighing in with python print leather pants and a beige leather jacket, is the reigning NCAA Coach of the Year and current holder of the “Gaudiest Leather” title, Kim Mulkey! As both competitors meet in the middle for the mandatory “meet and greet”, it appears our reigning champion, Mulkey, is dissing McGraw, but in the end, McGraw will win the “Duel of the Leather” whereas Mulkey will retain her “Gaudiest Leather” title. Muffet McGraw is known for wearing her leather skirt, and in all honesty, it looks really good on her because she has the stature that can carry it well and she doesn’t make it look to gaudy. She does her best to coordinate it with a decent type shirt and, of course, shoes (which aren’t shown here); so in Muffet’s case, she is fine to wear the leather because she knows how to wear it and still look fashionable. On the contrary, Kim Mulkey, who is spunky, lacks the fashion sense that Muffet has. Mulkey’s outfit is just down-right gaudy – python print leather pants, really? And then mix it with a beige/gold leather jacket? Wow, someone please help Mulkey see the light! I’ve seen Mulkey wear some other leather outfits that are passable, but this one is just plain nasty and has to go. I don’t care how many wins your team has, don’t keep drawing attention to yourself on the sideline while wearing these horrendously matched and tight-fitted outfits, just dress normal and let the talent of your team shine.

And then there is Sylvia…


Oh! dear Sylvia Hatchell, whose name we have heard countless times this season on ESPN for FINALLY getting her 900th win. We all know who you are and where you coach, but you really have to come to the ACC Tournament with a Carolina Blue leather jacket on? Granted, it isn’t the worst thing I have seen, but should someone of your age be wearing a leather jacket to coach a game? And didn’t you get hot? Oh, no, wait!, that’s right!, your team played as cold as ice that championship game as Duke literally obliterated you guys on the court. So maybe the Carolina Blue jacket helped warmed you a little more from the icy temperatures on the court. Either way, this one is a hit or miss – it just doesn’t faze me, though honestly I hate it because of the color.


Going back to Mulkey, the Queen of Leather, wow, I would just love to know where in Waco does she find such clothes or does she have to custom order them? The python leather pants and gold jacket, as I have previously stated, is just distasteful to me and way too distracting on the court. However, I will say that the pink jacket trimmed in leather-faux with black leather pants…well I am going to get some slack for this, but I actually kind of like this outfit. I still think the leather pants are a bit too tight for her to be wearing on ESPN (and we all know now how much of a distraction they caused for UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma!); but overall, this outfit isn’t one of Kim’s worst ones. (Plus, her shoes were absolutely amazing that night!) Y’all know how much I adore Kim Mulkey, and in some ways, she is bold and brave to wear this – but as I said, expect the unexpected. Mulkey has her own fashion sense – sometimes it works, sometimes it just doesn’t and sometimes it makes her look something besides a coach (just saying!). I just hope and pray that if Baylor makes it to the 2013 NCAA National Championship game again this year, that Kim will NOT wear leather – you can wear your spiked heels (which I love!) but please, refrain from wearing leather to claim the National Championship!


So with all this ghastly leather, is there anyone who can save the day and show us how to minimally wear leather and make it look good? Of course there is … the fashionista of women’s college basketball, who looks absolutely smashing in anything - she can show us how to wear leather appropriately. The title “Fashionista” belongs exclusively to her, and she is one of my most favorite coaches of this day in time. She is Chris Dailey, the Associate Head Coach of the UConn Women’s Basketball team, and it is partly her fashion style that helps to make Geno Auriemma look so good on the court. (Maybe that is why they are often referred to as the “Donna Karan and Giorgio Armani” of women’s basketball!) “CD” (as she is most commonly known) does not very often wear leather, but when she does, as exhibited in these few circumstances, she can pull it off very, very easily. Her rail-thin yet toned frame can carry almost any outfit that you throw her way, and she can always accessorize better than any other coach. UConn honored Geno, as well as CD, when they won their 800th game, and that evening she wore a very simple pair of grayish slacks with a white shirt covered by a classy leather jacket – nothing too gaudy nor out of character. During a recent battle against rival Notre Dame, The Fashionista went head-to-head against “Runner-Up Fashionista” (Muffet McGraw) – Muffet in her animal print skirt vs. Chris in her grayish skirt and half leather top. At first glance, I did not really like CD’s top, but as the game progressed and she was shown more and more on TV (thanks to Geno’s antics and CD being the ONLY person who has the supreme ability to calm him during trying times, ha!), my initial impression of her outfit began to change and I began to really develop a liking to her top. Do I think leather is Chris Dailey’s calling? Heck no! She has many other outfits (to be featured later) that are just amazing. But, of all the coaches featured here, she knows how to design an outfit that is not exclusively made up of all-things-leather!

In the end, I’m not so sure I am willing to rush back out to Kohl’s or some other store to look for another pair of leather pants for myself. I think I’ll settle for my leather jackets and coats, as well as my shoes and just try to accessorize and be like CD. Oh and yes, I will continue to enjoy my heated leather seats – you can’t even go wrong with that leather!