No matter where you live, what your schedule is, or how organized you think you might be, you will always be victim to the need to run out for this, that or the other. The other usually involves something salty, sweet, or beaded. At least for me.

Now that I work out of the home, my need to run out for errands is also an excuse to socialize a bit.

Being down South here in the nature coast of Florida, sometimes I have to take an extra minute or ten to put myself together before just running out the door.

I grew up in a “Southern” household in suburban Maryland. My Dad still to this day speaks with a slow Georgia accent and my Mom still peppers her Tennessee speech with some good old fashioned backwoods slang. I was the only kid in school (besides my sisters) who had iced sweet tea and biscuits with dinner every night year round.

Now that I am surrounded by soft spoken southern ladies, I feel quite at home. But my idea of comfort sometimes gets me in trouble.

Yesterday morning I ran out for brownie ingredients (aka mix) for my party this weekend. I know to have something sweet, something salty, and lots and lots of beverages for any party in my neighborhood. So as I came out of Walmart, my grocery cart was chock full of gardening supplies, brownie mix(es), a jug of sweet iced tea, and plants. Only one of those items was on my original list.

And then I ran into Judy.

Judy is my neighbor from two streets over who always looks so gorgeous and put together. She always laughs delicately, says “Rachel, you are so funny!” and kisses me on the cheek with her perfumed sugary sweetness. Sigh. I do not think she is even native to the South but she represents it so well.

Judy is one of the reasons I look in the mirror before I leave the house. But this morning like most mornings now, I did not have any makeup on. I haven’t plucked my brows since the last time I had to socialize and I had yoga pants and a long sleeved decal t-shirt. I do not do yoga. They are my gardening or lazy day pants. And they may be a bit saggy in the bottom since I may have not washed them in a bit.

Arg. Caught again.

But Judy was her normal sweet self and laughed with me and told me I was funny when I made a nervous comment. She kissed my cheek in a perfumed hug and left an air of floral sweetness that lingered an hour later.

Running out down south has made me a bit more aware of my not-for-yoga pants. Up North I never would have been running out to Walmart on a weekday for brownies at 1pm. I never would have been stopped by a friend from the neighborhood who wanted to be sweet and chat. I had no friends in my last neighborhood. Well, I had one, but she was a bit cranky like me. We were lucky to wave at each other in our saggy pants.

So I will make sure to start taking a second look in the mirror before leaving my house in the middle of the day.

This weekend is the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. My parents watch it every year, but they only turn it on right before the race. They think all the lead up to the race is just horse nonsense.

This Saturday is also my next home Jewelry party. The party ends at 4pm and the race starts at about that time. I will change out of my party jewelry (as much of my own Executive Beader bling as I can wear and still effectively pour ice tea).

And I will put on this fun little piece I created a few weeks ago with an old button, gifted stone beads, and two pint sized equestrian inspired charms. The toggle closure was bought a year or two ago at Potomac Beads in Hagerstown, MD. The charms were a bargain find on clearance at Michael’s.

An equestrian theme

 Take a look in the mirror before you head out this weekend and enjoy the race!