#230 Endless Coughs

Monday 2017 January 30
So while for the most part I'm better than I was last Thursday, I. CAN. NOT. STOP. COUGHING.

It's driving me crazy.

I'm sure it's driving Stephen crazy.

I cough myself awake at night.

Hate it. Pretty sure after looking up the coughing bit I've got bronchitis, which of course really can't be treated. So here's to hoping it doesn't last the 3 weeks it says it potentially could.

Tonight, after a bowl of cheese grits, I settled in on the couch and watched a couple episodes of Supernatural instead of taking down the Christmas tree that is about to see February if I'm not careful. Stephen had to attend an HOA meeting, and that left me with some time on my hands at home. Which should have been used for putting away laundry, but I'm going to milk my sickness for as long as I can.

Especially if it means getting out of laundry duty.

But tomorrow it really probably has to be done.

#229 Middle Bro's Birthday

Sunday 2017 January 29
Now that the Prahl's seem to have collected not only in Travelers Rest, but also in Columbia (we stole Kevin and kept him down here), I forget we can celebrate things together. So Thursday I received a text from Kevin asking if we may be doing anything Saturday. Come to find out it's his birthday.

So when we got back in town today, we began sending out some feelers for a small birthday get together. We ended up with about 15 people, and a night of fun with cake, icecream, Doritos, YouTube videos and fun conversations.

Again, love this gang. And happy belated birthday Kevin!

#228 Exploring Tiny Towns

Saturday 2017 January 28
While Augusta is a big draw for the Masters Golf Tournament, I'm not sure what else there is to offer in Augusta. Proves there is a lot. While the weather was a bit nippy, we managed to find a warm little breakfast spot at The New Moon Cafe (funny enough the same place I enjoyed some coffee from in Aiken last week).

Interior

I enjoyed their Augusta grits, which had avocado, salsa, bacon and more making it into a very spicy grits concoction. But man was it good. Stephen had a hearty breakfast with all the essentials like eggs and bacon and a Nutella hot chocolate on the side. I had a Machete Mocha coffee, which I think gave me enough heartburn for the day. That thing was spicy.

We then went down to the Riverwalk, which was a bit nippy with the wind picking up.

Little bare right now, but the bridge and walking area were beautiful! 

After we'd frozen ourselves enough, we ventured around town driving through the Old Towne district, and found ourselves on the North Augusta side.

We got out to find gators at Brick Pond Park, which no gators, but it was beautiful!

No Tufted Tittymouses either. That's a thing.
We went on the hunt to figure out what the mills were in the distance and found these two beautiful buildings. Old Gun Powder Mills...

The chimney is the Confederate Powder Works Chimney
One last stop on our tour ended at the Saluda Rapids Park, which was stunning! We enjoyed every moment before we headed home to our AirBnB to try and catch the sunset on the river.

A photo posted by Brittany Prahl (@diednsaved) on

We ventured out after sunset to Boll Weevil Cafe. Delicious shrimp and grits and creole pasta, and a take home Red Velvet cake with cheesecake in the center. Yep you read that right.

PS. I realized last night my baby shower was not Sunday, but actually today. Hate our trip away made me miss it, but I know I'll get to see the lovely Brittany and her baby Avery soon!

#227 Get-Away

Friday 2017 January 27
Stephen and I promised each other a Christmas present get-away somewhere. Because I knew I had a baby shower for my friend Brittany on Sunday, Stephen planned for us to not go too far away in Augusta. Which normally I'd say "Well what's in Augusta?" But it has proven so far to be a lot more cute, sweet and quaint than I thought it was going to be!

We are staying at an AirBnB which I think has already exceeded all AirBnB standards and may ruin us in the future.

Exterior. Yes that's the river down there.
We are staying in the basement.

Panoramic views.



Huge ceilings and gorgeous windows.


Sweet dreams tonight!

#226 Cold, Cold Go Away

Thursday 2017 January 26
Don't come again another day. Seriously I'm sick again. Feeling a little under the weather at work, a couple of my coworkers even took notice I wasn't feeling too well.

 Sure enough by the time Unleashed rolled around I was full on sick. Sniffles here, sore throat to the max, achy body, super cold, etc. Except minus the nausea which is great, but somehow everything is like 10x worse than last week. So here I am missing Thursday night again this week. I slept lots, but then I also managed to squeeze in my episode of This is Us. Tears every time. How do they do that?


I even thought I had this episode figured out since I knew they were sharing
how Jack died. Typically their episodes have a theme to them that all the characters experience. So in light of "death" I figured William, Randall's dad, would end up passing away. But spoiler that is the farthest thing from what happened. I'm glad though.

#225 Planning for Magnolia Market

Wednesday 2017 January 25
After work, Melinda my neighbor came over to discuss our upcoming trip to Austin, TX. Not sure I've mentioned this yet, but we are planning to go to IF: Gathering women's conference. Her best friend was planning to attend with her, but has a Bible study she is beginning the same weekend and thought it was best, rightfully so, to stay and be there for that first day of Bible study.

Which left an extra ticket for me. Wasn't sure I'd be able to splurge on this trip, but with the encouragement of Stephen I'm going! So I'm really excited to get to spend more time with Melinda, but also digging into God's Word at this event. I've done a couple Jennie Allen's studies as well as a study or two on IF:Equip.

Their motto is simple...

The vision was to gather, equip, and unleash women to live out God’s calling on their lives. 

So we've got tickets booked, and tonight we were looking for things to do in Austin. Funny enough, my neighbor Deepty moved recently to Austin. This is one relationship I wished and wished I nurtured more while she lived next door, and while we created a bond, we never took it much further than neighbors. But now all 3 of us neighbors will be roaming the Austin area together for a few days. Hopefully God uses this as an opportunity to share with Deepty more about why we're there.

My other deep excitement may lie in the fact I finally got the nerve to ask Melinda if she'd like to go to Magnolia Market. Fixer Upper's Chip and Joanna Gaines have their own store and really experience in Waco, TX just a couple hours outside of Austin. Fortunately not only was she cool with going, but Deepty has really wanted to go too.

So if you happen to see me in any upcoming Magnolia Instagram shots, or hear how I've become best friends with Joanna Gaines.. you'll know how.






#224 I've Got Friends...

Tuesday 2017 January 24
I was going to sing a song about I've got friends in low places, but that doesn't fit and then it also talks about whiskey or something. I don't listen to country. Not sure why I felt that was all appropriate. But now you know my title of "I've Got Friends" is not to brag, simply a statement.

Better title is probably I've got new friends. About a year ago I met Lisa through our College and Career. Since then I've been able to build a friendship with her and it's one of the few I can say I feel is a real new organic friendship I've been able to create. She's been involved in our group, but not to the level others have. Yet we've still managed to hang out multiple times, encourage each other, and be there for one another in times of hardship.

Tonight we got together to catch up after work. So after my sweet hubby came to my rescue and replaced my brakes for me while I was at work (they were something horrible), I rushed over afterwards to meet Lisa at Chick-fil-a in Five Points.

We spent over 3 hours there, and I'm pretty sure almost closed the place down. It was such a needed time together, and it encourages me to have a friendship like this that has come naturally.

Also I got to see Rick Henry with Sports.
WIS tv News Anchor for Sports
I kind of had a weird fan girl moment. I didn't think I was capable of them, but nonetheless here I was freaking out over my childhood TV star. Just saying I've watched him since I was a kid.