Week 2.34: Charm

Week 2.34: Charm was taken this weekend in my friend's mom's backyard. I fell in love with this little corner of Charm as soon as I saw it...kind of like how I fell in love with, Annie, my beautiful, amazing, wild friend who defines Charm. She's Southern Charm and sass and warmth all rolled into one. I am so thankful for her insight, her dedication and her bright outlook on life.

She gives phenomenal pep talks. She can talk her way into or out of anything. I've never seen her give up on anything. Her confrontational style is all love and a lot of Charm. She always wants more out of life. She's lived all over the globe but she's totally down to earth. She drives like she owns the road, and she runs her home like a retreat. She twirls her hair and tans her skin under hot sun beside sparkling waters. I can't imagine Annie in a place where there is no water.

She's a foodie and a chef. A mom. A singer. A music lover. A tape maker. A storyteller. She's a friend. A sister. A daughter. A great laugher. Her style is one-of-a-kind. She's honest. She's sweet. She's determined. She's deep. She stays cool even in the hottest heat. She's "smarter than most people"...her words, not mine. She's confident. She's generous. She's constantly on the move. She coins terms like nobody's business (and then I steal them)...like "Junk!" (the best swear-word in the world), "It's the business!", and "(fill-in-the-blank) pants" (ie: "crazypants", "stupidpants", "tiredpants", and my personal favorite: "bossypants").

She's one of the gems I scored during my divorce. I can't imagine life without my friend!

One of my favorite things about Annie is that she tilts her rear view mirror toward herself...and her daughter. I've never seen her actually look in the mirror for a car. Back in Hawaii days, I asked her why her mirror was jacked to the side all crazy-like...she replied matter-of-factly: "I don't need to see the cars. The cars need to see ME. I tilt the mirror so I can see myself." She drives and she watches herself in the mirror...checks her teeth, tries various smiles and sings to herself. Yep. It's quite a show.

And it all goes back to childhood when her father would admire himself in the mirror and tell Annie: "You've got a goood-lookin' daddy, Annie. That's why you're so pretty!" Annie's mom was a primper in good, old-fashioned Southern style. She still is, actually, I've seen her in action myself. Makeup fresh. Jewelry on. Nails done. Neat clothes. Annie was born for greatness. Annie is greatness right now, and she's destined for more of the stuff...

So is the little girl I'm sharing with you this week: Pep Talk Girl

The following is a direct quote from "Little Girl Gives Herself a Pep Talk" from StupidVideos.com. I am a huge fan of this little girl and the parent who took this video. I can't believe the camera wasn't shaking with laughter! I love trying to imagine what my friend, Annie, must've been like as a little girl; this girl gets pretty close to what I imagine...This is for you, Annie!

"Look! I can be assert.
Now...my whole house is great,
I can do anything good.
I like my school. I like anything.
I like my dad.
I like my cousin. I like my aunt.
I like my Allison.
I like my mom. I like my sister.
I like my dad.
I like my (something unintelligible due to squealing baby).
I like my hair. I like my haircut.
I like my pajamas. I like my stuff.
I like my room.
I LIKE MY WHOLE HOUSE! (clap)
My whole house is great!
I can do anything good!
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
I can do anything good...better than anyone.
Better than anyone."

And just for fun...here's a picture of Charm, herself...little miss "Petite!!!!!"