i've been tagged!

my dear friend callie tagged me in this little fill in the blank goodness, so i had to indulge...

1) who is your style icon?

hmmm...my style ideal is a woman of contradiction and versatility...a woman who can be effortlessly dressed for any occasion. a woman who can get dirty with the boys, yet she possesses feminine mystique. a woman who can throw on a pair of jeans and boots and look incredibly sexy, yet can grace the red carpet later that night and knock 'em dead. for that reason, i've always admired the look of these three ladies:


sheryl crow, what a babe...


carrie's my go-to girl. i often think, "what would carrie wear?" "how would carrie do her hair?" she looks STUNNING. ALL. THE. TIME. to me, she captures the true essence of the all-american, southern sweetheart, but her style still has some edge.


i love everything about emmylou harris...dear lord, is it really possible to look like this at 63?

2) what is your favorite socialite lit book?

hands down, "what southern women know that every woman should" by ronda rich. this little gem is fantastic and so is the author. i'm dying to meet her someday!



3) what is your favorite party theme?

haha, you know me, i loooove a good party theme! i'm incredibly partial to the "white trash" theme, but coming in at a close second would be anything that could fall into the categories of jimmy buffet/mexican getaway/island in the sun.



4) what is your go-to halloween costume?

once again, i love dressing up, but senior year at halloween i had no costume and decided to use my always handy aviator shades and ever-present bomber jacket to be kelly mcgillis (charlie) from top gun! best part of the night? there were so many cute boys dressed up as maverick who wanted to have their picture with me!



5) what is the one extravagance you can't live without?

it's a tie. i could NOT LIVE without my bubble baths accompanied by a glass of good wine, but i will also subsist on an incredibly miniscule budget and give up just about everything so that i can partake in traveling...





6) who is a living person you admire?

geeze louise, i admire so many people! i'll try to narrow it down with how i feel today...


i am absolutely blown away by the philanthropic work that bill & melinda gates have done. not only is their foundation wiping out the harmful effects of preventative diseases, but they are at the forefront of funding higher education. it's one thing to be rich and give money away, it's another to be directly involved in the efforts.


i love dolly parton so very much. i read her autobiography a few years back and it was just incredible. i have so much respect for her. people totally underestimate her as a dumb blonde, but she is a tremendous song writer, shrewd businesswoman, a performer with longevity, and she has given so much back to the people of her appalachian hometown.

7) what is your greatest fear?

wow. that's thought provoking. i'd say my greatest fear is wasting time or living regretfully...looking back on the years and wishing i would've taken more chances, done more things, or told more people how i really felt about them. for this very reason, i'm trying to be proactive about facing this fear and i'm doing my best to live with gusto, passion, and a sense of respect for the brevity of life.

8) what is the trait you deplore in yourself?

i think i've mentioned this in other blog posts, but my deplorable trait is a double-edged sword (as most character traits are) because it's something i actually like about myself and refuse to change...oh the wonderful world of dichotomy! this sounds so freakin' emo (forgive me), but i feel things very intensely and i give my WHOLE heart to every person, job, situation, _______ (fill in the blank) that i deem worthy (which doesn't require the greatest sense of discernment on my part.) as you might have foreshadowed, this can lead to some bruised and broken hearts along the way. sometimes...a lot of times...i wish i didn't care so much...i wish i could be more ambivalent or blissfully ignorant and detached. however, one of my coworkers said to me the other day, "i just wish i was as passionate about one thing as you are about everything." that made me feel really good. :)

9) what talent would you most like to have?

oh that's easy, i wish i had the voice of a pretty little songbird! if that were the case, i'd already be on stage at the grand 'ol opry a looooong time ago!

10) what is your greatest achievement?

first and foremost, my greatest achievement would be my spiritual life in the fact that i know Jesus Christ as my personal savior. after that, it would be my discovery (post-college, mind you) that working with kids labeled as "unlovable" and "rejected" was the answer to what i'd been looking for my whole life. there will never be ANYTHING greater that i can ever do in this lifetime than to build blessings in their lives and to watch them grow into resilient, capable adults.



alright, time to pass it on...i'm tagging: brittany, maggie, crystal, stephanie, and megan.

my life according to george strait

my dear friend yvette passed this along to me and i thought it'd be a good waste of time. thanks darling.

Using ONLY song titles from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to [at least] 12 people you like and include me. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "My Life According to (BAND NAME)"

Pick your artist: George Strait

-Are you a male or female? That's My Kind of Woman
-Describe yourself: How 'Bout Them Cowgirls
-How do you feel: Unwound
-Describe where you currently live: Home in San Antone
-If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Marina Del Rey
-Your favorite form of transportation: One Foot In Front of the Other
-Your best friend is: True
-Your favorite color is: Red River Valley
-What's the weather like: Blue Clear Sky
-Favorite time of day: One Night At a Time
-If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This
-What is life to you: Love Without End, Amen
-Your relationship: A Fire I Can't Put Out
-Your Fear: Murder on Music Row
-What is the best advice you have to give: Give It Away
-If you could change your name, you would change it to: Adalida
-Thought for the day: What's Going On in Your World
-How you would like to die: It Just Comes Natural
-Your soul's present condition: The Best Day
-Your motto: Lead On

ha wow that was fun.

thanks koontzybear.

so, i'm sitting here waiting on my freshly-painted-opi affair in red square toenails to dry and i just noticed that my dear, dear friend megs tagged me in some fill-in-blank fun.

though i should probably get some sleep, i'm much too concerned about keeping my new sheets in pristine condition and listening in on tonight's previously aired episode of DWTS. so here it goes, all the useful facts you never wanted to know about yours truly...

Initials:
SDS!

Name someone with the same birthday as you:
jack osborne. we're the exact same age...don't know why i know this :/

Favorite fruit?
i loooove pineapple.

For or against same sex marriage?
i'm still thinking about this one. i thought i had my mind made up, but recently, i had a conversation with a good friend of mine about this issue and he really opened me up to some new insights. i'll let you know when i figure it out.

Are you bisexual?
no way. i have some extraordinarily beautiful women in my life, but i'm much too crazy about young, strapping gentlemen.

Have you ever slept in someone elses clothes?
affirmative.

How many U.S states have you been to?
TX, AZ, NV, CO, NM, TX, OK, LA, AR, IL, IN, MS, AL, TN, GA, FL, NC, VA, MD, NY = 20, geez i have a lot to go! but, only one state has my heart ;)

How many of the U.S states have you lived in?
only the lonestar. but if i wasn't living in texas, i've always imagined that you would find me in tennessee.

Have you ever lived outside the U.S?
yes. madrid, spain. mendoza, argentina. hermosillo, mexico.

Name something physical you like about yourself?
my hands and my collarbones.

Something non-physical you like about yourself?
my ability to not take myself/life too seriously, my extroverted tendency of making friends anywhere i go, my unflappable sense of adventure (or reckless illogical thinking?...)

Do you have any pets?
no, i'm dying to have a chocolate lab and a palomino though! someday...

What is your dream car?
1967 red mustang convertible (accompanied by some good music and my hair blowing in the wind of course.)

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
gotta see egypt and greece. but here in the u.s., i've been wanting to visit savannah, georgia for the looooongest time.

Are you bipolar?
eccentric and a bit dramatic at times? yes. but not bipolar.

Where would you want to go on a first date?
i like doing activities. playing golf. going to the park. going to a concert. i really prefer when someone teaches me something.

Has anyone ever sang or played for you personally?
hahaha yes...quite possibly one of the most awkward/most embarrassing/hysterical moments of my life. people love to hear this story.

Ever been kissed under fireworks?
no! felt fireworks, but never actually been kissed under them...that does sound lovely though...

Have you ever bungee jumped?
no, and i probably won't even though i would love to be that bad a adrenaline junkie.

Have you ever white water rafted?
yep sure have...estes park, co.

Has anyone ten years older than you ever hit on you?
ohhhhhh yeah, afraid so. anyone who went on 'vegas sb '08' knows exactly what i'm talking about.

Are you racist?
absolutely not.

What song are you listening to right now?
"the dock of the bay" - otis redding.

What is your favorite song at the moment?
"free" - zac brown band.

What was the last movie you watched?
just rented twilight with lauren, MUCH better than i expected...was starting to wonder what all the robert pattinson hype was all about. i get it.

Where was the last place you went besides your house?
spent some hard-earned dollars at target! who can resist new sunglasses and swimsuits?

Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property?
no, but i do, in fact, have a friend who literally took the song "before he cheats" and applied it to her own bf's truck. always thought that was a little crazy...

Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?
playfully yeah, but never for real. but don't think i won't if need be!

What's the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
eyes. smile. height. (agreed w/ you megs)

What do you usually order from Starbucks?
not a coffee girl. shocking i know.

Say something totally random about yourself:
i'm about to get my concealed handgun license.

Do you have an iPod?
oh yeah...strangely pathetic that it might be my best friend?

Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
not really, but people at work really believe that i resemble jennifer aniston. i don't really think so at all though.

Do you have freckles?
nope, a few on my nose and that's it.

Are you comfortable with your height?
yes, but it's taken me a long time...i use to long for being a little bitty petite thing...but now i own my height.

Do you love someone right now?
i'm always loving someone.

How tall are you?
5'8''

Do you speak any other language other than english?
por supuesto, me encanta hablar espanol!

Have you ever ridden in a limo?
sure have, but it's not something i do on a regular basis.

Do you watch MTV?
no, i'm over it. i used to really love indulging in it though. we weren't allowed to watch it at my house growing up, so i had to sneak out and watch it at friends' houses. it was this very mysterious, rebellious vice for me.

What's something that really annoys you?
traffic. when someone's texting/talking on the phone when you're trying to spend quality time with them. people's lack of gratitude/sense of entitlement.

Do you like Michael Jackson?
who didn't like him back in the day? that thriller record's great.

Have you ever surfed?
no, but i'd love to try it though.

Do you know how to pump gas?
now i do, but do you want me to tell you a funny story about the first time i tried? i was a brand spankin' new 16-year-old and i went to go fill up for the first time at the circle s gas station (hottest spot in my little town). i didn't know at this time that you could not pick up the handle and press on the trigger before you inserted it into your tank. my gosh y'all, i sprayed gasoline everywhere...my clothes and my hair was soppin' wet with gasoline! took me 2 weeks to get that smell to go away...and many of our finest citizens in town saw the whole thing go down. so young (and so incredibly stupid...)

Have you ever thought that you were honestly going to die?
yes. many times actually. i remember a time when i never thought i'd make it past the age of 19. look at me now, going strong on 23 years!

Were you ever rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?
uh huh. motorcycle accident of '06.

What's your favorite state to live in?
don't think i even need to answer this...

What color is your hair?
blonde.

What color are your eyes?
green! yes my daddy always insists on singing "brown eyed girl" to me. he's colorblind. this drives me crazy.

Do you have any special talents?
you better believe it!

Favorite non-alcoholic drink?
cherry limeades.

Favorite city?
buenos aires.

Have you ever ridden a mechanical bull?
absolutely. not bad either...8 seconds is totally doable.

If you were working on a pirate ship, what would you most likely be?
don't really understand this question? captain?

Who do you live with?
my really hilarious, sassy, wise room mate wendi todd.

Last thing you watched on TV?
dancing with the stars! i'm a huge fan of the show...

Do you wear glasses or contacts?
nope, 20/20.

Have you ever taken a road trip?
ummmm....yeah. road trip is my middle name!


okay, so i feel exhausted mentally and emotionally...can't believe i expounded on this much information about myself. hope you have a good night! happy april fool's day!

i hate myself for doing this...

but i'm doing it anyway.

if you didn't catch wind of the "25 things virus" over facebook, then you must have been living under a rock over the last month. i, for one, will admit that i repeatedly scoffed at this kitschy little chain letter and proudly declared myself above it all, but i have fallen too. i'm going to blame the fact that my afternoon is free do mindless things on the rigorous TAKS testing that all of my kids are going through today (i pray that all of them ace it!)

so drum roll please...below are 25 things about shannan d'aun sowder that you might not know.

1. I have the most beautiful, most accomplished, most intelligent, most reliable girlfriends you could possibly imagine. I don’t know how I got so incredibly lucky in this department, but I know I’m fortunate.

2. My four years at Baylor University were the best four years of my life. I could’ve been happy as a clam living in our little mansion with aforementioned friends for the rest of my life. Okay…maybe not the REST of my life…but I think we had a few good years left in us.

3. I absolutely love entertaining/throwing parties/playing hostess. I’m very famous for my Cinco de Mayo bash. And yes, I will be holding the 5th annual fiesta in San Antonio…you’re all invited. Come on, I know you want some of my world-famous queso and sangria!

4. Very few people know that I was a member of the math & science team in high school. We called ourselves the Mathletes and yes, we went to state all four years.

5. My family is vitally important to me. They drive me crazy at times – and if you’ve ever had the lovely pleasure of meeting my mother, than you really know what I’m talking about – but I wouldn’t trade ‘em for anything!

6. I’m a live music junkie and it’s kind of like a drug…but NO, I AM NOT A GROUPIE!!!

7. I believe in writing thank you notes for everything under the sun…even if you loan me a paperclip. I think people are really underappreciated these days.

8. I don’t acutely realize I’m doing it, but it has come to my attention that my dialect is chock-full of isms and sayings…i.e. “it is hotter than the hinges of hell on this July day,” “Dad, did you see that new house the Thompsons are building? They must be in high cotton,” “Sister, you better find yourself something to do…don’t you know that idle hands are the devil’s work?”

9. I never ever thought I’d enter the field of education, but it is something I enjoy tremendously. That being said, I miss my students from Mexico every single day.

10. Thankfully, now I get the opportunity to work with 125 raggedy, unlovable, troublemakers who I claim as my own.

11. I read. All. The. Time. When most kids were going out to parties in high school, I was sitting at Barnes & Noble.

12. Going to the lake is my therapy. No communication devices + fishing + all the Bluebonnet pie you can eat = pure bliss.

13. It’s true…I love Elvis Presley. But not 1977-Vegas-alarmingly overweight Elvis; I’m partial to the 1968 Comeback Special-black leather bomber jacket Elvis. I once spent a consecutive 12 hours at Graceland!

14. The first date I ever went on was the worst date of my life! We went to go see the critically acclaimed film “Dude Where’s My Car?” and he forgot his wallet so I had to pay for everything. I was so freaked out about being alone with him that I called my best friend to come meet us at dinner. Hey, I was 14…I was just a child.

15. Someday, I will publish a book even if it kills me.

16. I’m probably one of the most superstitious people you’ll ever meet. No stepping on sidewalk cracks, opening umbrellas inside, or walking underneath ladders for me.

17. Guilty pleasures include, but are not limited to, Britney Jean Spears, infomercial products, getting so highly involved in The Bachelor that I scream at the TV, and shooting guns.

18. My entire childhood I looked EXACTLY like Olive from “Little Miss Sunshine.” It’s not something I’m ashamed of; I was able to understand the concept of resiliency at a very early age.

19. I was a dancer (ballet, tap, jazz) for 14 years. I don’t really talk about it much, but it was pretty much my life for a long time. Didn’t quite make it professional, but it comes in handy for Dance Dance Revolution and impromptu dance parties.

20. I’m obsessed with architecture and can’t wait to build my dream house. I’ve been designing it in my head for so long now. I’d like to do everything on my own, without contracting the work out if possible.

21. My favorite quality about myself is also equally my least favorite quality about myself. I’m a fiercely loyal person who adamantly believes that every individual is inherently good, thus I don’t ever give up on anyone. It makes life painstakingly difficult sometimes, but it’s something I can’t change.

22. I really wish I could sing.

23. I came dangerously close to dying at birth, I’ve been in a bar room shoot-out, I escaped a deadly tornado, I got mugged in a foreign country at knifepoint, and I’ve been run over by a huge motorcycle among other things…this leads me to believe that there must be a fundamental reason for being alive.

24. I’m madly in love with the color red. There’s something about it that is intoxicating, vibrant, and powerful. It’s definitely my signature color.

25. Something I have learned: I have a lot more to learn.

billygoat

this video was taken recently of my favorite little boy in all the world: kallan kuehler. sorry baby kallan, you know i love you to pieces, but this is just funny.

besides, this little goat is getting you ready for the bull riding circuit...