A little blogging renovation...

For the past few weeks

I have been brainstorming on new blog titles.

Bayou Bliss was fiiiiiine

when I entered this little world of blogging...

but this blog was ready for something new,

something that told more of our story.

Something...

that resembled more of a tag line for this family,

if you will...

for our journey through life.

Cocktails and Confetti

Some of you may be thinking,

"Michelle has officially lost it,

OR she has become quite the lush..."

But let me explain...

Back in my New Year's post,

I mentioned how much I LOVED this quote...



I went on to mention

how I hoped this would be everyone's goal

for the New Year.

Literally if you wish...

but more so metaphorically.

That we would all strive to live

each and every day,

like it was the most amazing day,

at the most fabulous party,

in our best dressed,

with our favorite people.

Living life to the fullest.

With that being said,

welcome to

Cocktails and Confetti.

The Valverde's blog

about our crazy but amazing life,

that we endeavor to live to fullest,

savoring each and every moment.

(actually it's more Michelle's blog,

and kind of Annabelle's...

you all know Kody would rather

buy another Yorkie then blog...

BUT who needs details)

XOXO



Our Darling Tuscaloosa...

365 days ago,

on what had been an ordinary Wednesday,

my heart was broken at 5:47pm.

This image flashed across my television screen moments later,

...and my world was changed forever.

A knot still forms in my throat when I talk about that day.

Perhaps it will never go away,

perhaps that knot

serves as my scar,

my reminder.

As if we really need to be reminded.

We were all changed that day.

Those of us who sat terrified,

desperate,

all across the country,

the world even.

Waiting to hear from our families,

our friends,

our city.

Those of you who lived through the terror first hand,

who took cover and prayed,

who blew those sirens and warnings off,

like so many times before.

We were all,

forever changed.

Today,

365 days later

we remember.

 We remember,

 all of those who lost their lives far too soon.

We remember,

 our beloved Tuscaloosa.

We remember,

because each and every one of us carry our own scars.

We will never forget,

because we can never forget.

Our first true love.

Our darling Tuscaloosa.

Georgia On My Mind...

Life never seems to slow down for us.

We were on vacation for a bit,

then I needed a minute to recover from vacation

(isn't that irritating?),

and now Kody is sick sick sick.

So we've been non stop,

with a combination of down for the count...

which somehow still feels like we are going non stop.

Ohhhh, the life of an adult...

Anyways,

we spent part of last week and the week before,

on a little Spring time family vacay

in Savannah, Georgia.

As advertised,

Savannah is a Southern Belle's dreaaaaaam...

BUUUUUUUUUT,

could use a BIT better shopping to TRULY be a dream

for THIS girl.



A vacation is not a successful vacation for me,

unless I come home with some sort of amazing find.

Savannah didn't fail me,

in spite of its mediocre shopping,

and I managed to

pick up a CLUTCH beauty gem.

This stuff is FANTASTIC.

I have allllll sorts of problems with dry, chapped lips...

and this stuff,

hands down,

is the best chapstick I have used.

(you can find online at http://www.savannahbee.com/)

And if you are thinking that this is along the same line as Burt's Bees...

you are mistaken,

because this is WAY WAY better.

You. Are. Welcome.

Flower Power

In my hustle and bustle to get out of my house

and to work this morning,

a glimpse of purple caught my eye.

I rushed over to the flower bed,

and

tadaaaaaa

I BEGGED Kody to plant these for me last year.

The Iris is my Kappa flower and I just LOVE them.

They make me want to go all Sorority Sally on everyone,

but I will refrain,

for all of our sake.

I have seen these in full glorious flower mode,

EVERYWHERE,

and I was feeling a little bummed

that my own hadn't made their appearance.

But nooooow they have,

and it makes my heart happy.

So,

 yay!!!

The Hardest Good Bye on Good Friday



I blogged last year about losing my grandaddy around Easter.

We found out he was going to meet Jesus on Palm Sunday.

We buried him on Good Friday.

Around this time of year,

he always makes his presence known...

through a rainbow,

a song,

a sunset,

a memory.

I cherish those moments,

because I MISS my grandaddy.

I was on the phone with my mom

on the way home from work Tuesday,

discussing life...

nothing serious,

just future plans and goals...

different things on my mind here of late,

when she says to me

"You know, your grandaddy is looking down at you from Heaven right now,  and he is SO proud of you..."

BOOM.
Tears filled my eyes.
I quickly hung up the phone.
And once more,
 Grandaddy and I had our time,

my precious moment.

Happy Happy Easter Grandaddy.

I bet the dogwoods,

and sunsets on the bay

are even more amazing this time of year

from where you are.
We miss you,
and love you so...

Happies

2 things that make me happy this Thursday...

LOOOOOOOVE. THIS. PRODUCT.

I have used Jergens Natural Glow since college,

and if you can get past the odd scent

(welcome to the world of being tan and skin cancer free)

it's a FANTASTIC product.

But add sunscreen,

and HOLY SMOKES,

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

Whoooooole new level of obsession for me,

and is now 100% one of my

can.not.live.without

products.

And this book...
I am so exciiiiiiiiited.
The author/Special Agent,
Clint Hill,
was on the Today Show this morning
discussing his book and time with Jackie O.
Oooooooh my stars,
it didn't take much
due to my Kennedy obsession,
but I am SOLD.
YOU,
my friends,
are looking at this girls next book purchase.

Happy Thursday,
it's alllllllmost Friday for some of us...
but for most of you this IS your Friday,
which is soooo way more exciting.

And P.S. YAY for baseball season!!!
There is something about a game being on in my house,
even only as background noise,
that makes life feel so normal.
Caaaaaaan't imagine why...
(and to my loves that are cussing me silently
because this means your boyfriends/fiances/husbands
are gone until September/October...
I love y'all,
you are such special women)

XOXO

VOTE!!!

Facebook friends,

I need a favor...

Follow this link,

www.facebook.com/WBECSouth

(you can also find it by going to my Timeline,

clicking on WBEC South's link)

scrollllll on down a tad,

and "Like" Lightning Bolt

to cast your vote for

"Innovative WBE of the Year"

For those of you who don't know,

Lightning Bolt and Supply

(also known as Thunder Threads)

is my family's (the Valverdes)industrial fastener business

(nuts, bolts, screws...).

Wesley, my BIL, helped develop an App

that is nominated for this award

and can WIN with your help!

Here is a little description of its fabulousness...

Lightning Bolt developed a system in which customers can effortlessly replenish their fastener, fitting, and MRO inventory by using our new Customer Managed Inventory (CMI) app. Lightning Bolt has created a custom program which uses a small cordless laser scanner that pairs with any smart phone or computer. The app has also been adapted for the iPhone/iPad by using the optical scanner in lieu of a scanner. Lighting Bolt's original CMI program was designed for computers. Recog...nizing it was important for the system to be extremely quick, easy to use and friendly to the many mobile devices on the market, apps for the iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and droid devices were created. Lightning Bolt is now giving this technology (including scanner) to all of its customers at no charge. Lighting Bolt's CMI scanners allow our customers to get exactly what they want while also receiving the absolute lowest price on the market…guaranteed! Lightning Bolt has been able to benefit from this technology through growth by capturing an increasing and ever-growing market share of the North American fastener business. Lightning Bolt's sole purpose of developing our CMI system was not for recognition, but for simplifying the difficult process of replenishing fastener, fitting, and MRO inventory into an effortless process. Our customers have expressed a great deal of enthusiasm by us giving them such a tool to save money while also regaining control over their "bolt bin" inventory.

Help them out and vote today!

Deadline is 11:59pm on April 17,

the most "Like"'s = a VICTORY!!!

(p.s. I'm a really sore loser...

every vote helps that horrific quality of mine stay calm...

thanks in advance!)

Springing into Summmmmmmer

I need to be a better blogger.

Life in the Valverde house is insanely busy as usual.

We work for the weekends,

and are rarely still...

But with the warmer weather moving into Louisiana

(I know I know... when did it leave, right?)

I have managed to sneak in a few hours of sunning the past few weekends.

I LOVE to lounge in the sunshine and read,

so my Spring thus far has been filled with these books

(so obsessed... do not get me started...)

My lounge chair,

And my laying out MUST HAVES...

followed by...

Hampton Sun has become my go to each summer.

Their sunscreen comes in SPF 15 and 30,

and are perfect for afternoons at the pool or beach.

The After Sun is my WEAKNESS.

I could use it all year.

The smell is FABULOUS,

and leaves your skin feeling AMAZING.

Let's be honest,

Southern girls LOVE having a great tan...

but skin cancer is nooooooo one's friend.

Hampton Sun offers the PERFECT combo of products,

 giving you fabulous color

 all while taking FANTASTIC care of your gorgeous skin.

Let me know your go to summer products,

and your poolside book recommendations!

Happy Spring!!!