Happy Friday

You made it; it's finally the weekend. I'm ready to sleep in and.. oh wait-- we're providing food for the Ole Miss tailgate tomorrow. Welp, I guess I'll sleep next weekend...?

Things that made me happy this week (besides my birthday festivities/surprises and all the well wishes):

 

{this banner over Beale St.}

I get that everyone's excited about the Justin Timberlake concert on Monday (me included!), but there was something super hilarious to me about pretending it was up for JT. I couldn't stop laughing. JT, on the other hand, didn't find it as amusing. 

I'm also excited for this movie. Don't judge me. Anyone have a bambino I can borrow to pretend I'm seeing it for them?

Then there's also Thanksgiving yumminess and Christmas decorations to look forward to... it's been a good week.

Pause for Reaction

Excuse me while my 11-year-old self shrieks with joy over last night's NSYNC reunion at the VMAs. Yes. It happened. It was brief, but epic. And fulfilled every 90's girl's dream by seeing them on stage again.

Then: I was 11 when my mom gave my sister the best 13th birthday party ever -- taking friends to the Pyramid to see the "No Strings Attached" tour when it hit Justin's hometown of Memphis, Tenn. Truly, I think the screams could be heard well throughout the tri-state area. I got to tag along with the older girls, and I was in heaven. 

We got there early and took our seats, only to be mildly horrified (and have my eyes closed by my mother) when Sisqo' belted "The Thong Song"accompanied by scantily-clad dancers as he opened for the royal family of boy bands.

After the shock wore off, came the real show. You guessed it. The boys dropped from the sky like puppets on strings, shot green confetti into the air for "Just Got Paid," and lassoed the hearts of girls everywhere with "Space Cowboy." 

When it was all said and done, our throats were soar from screaming, our pockets were busting from hoarding the confetti, and we spent the next 2 hours repeating choreography (insert hand motions for "Bringin' da noise, bring down tha house...") from the concert in the parking lot while traffic died down.

Now: Sitting at the kitchen table with my mom watching the VMA's when Justin Timberlake starts performing snip-its of his fan favorites in no particular order. Then. He pauses. The music changed. And I jumped up and started screaming (bum foot and all). My mom yells, "WHAT?! WHAT?!" and I scream (arms waving in the air doing the "Bye, Bye Bye" choreography), "They did it! It's an NSYNC reunion mom!!!" She smiles and casually returns to her activities while I dance around the kitchen.

 

 

All is right with the world again.

Celeb Concoctions

SAw news about Kenny Chesney debuting his own brand of rum, and since owning a wine label is a dream of mine, it struck a nerve.

Kenny is not the first celeb to brew his own libations, not by a long shot. The list is long and filled with impressive names from every genre and palate, I'm sure.  Here are the ones I'm aware of (which means I'm sure many other exist).

1) Kenny Chesney's Blue Chair Bay Rum

2) Drew Barrymore's "Barrymore Pinot Grigio"

3) Justin Timberlake's 901 Tequila

4) Brad and Angie's Miraval rosé 

5) Willie Nelson's Old Whiskey River Bourbon

6) George Clooney's Casamigos Tequila 

7) Fergie's Ferguson Crest wines

 

8) Dave Matthew's The Dreaming Tree wines

9) Train's "Drops of Jupiter" wine (this is not a joke)

even 10) Hanson's "MmmHop" beer

 
I'm curious to see if these mixtures are actually tasty or just fueled by brand awareness/celeb status. Guess I'll just have to try them all, budget allowing, and report back. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

901

Say what you will about JT's music (personally, I can still do bits and pieces of the concert choreography I picked up from the No Strings Attached NSYNC tour), but even though he's a multimillion dollar entertainer, clothing designer, restaurateur, philanthropist, and hubby-to-be, he definitely hasn't forgotten where he came from.

You guessed it; he's from the 901 (specifically Millington, Tennessee), and has been known to spend the occasional holiday or long weekend in the area to take in a round of golf at his eco-friendly course, Mirimichi (which I'll get to momentarily).

Here are a few things you might not know about the Memphis-native:

He has his own brand of tequila called 901. The campaign claims 9:01 p.m. is when the night officially starts, but it's no coincidence that it's the area code for the singer's hometown. Two birds, one stone; you get the idea.

He is reported to be one of the new owners of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team, alongside local icons Peyton Manning (who's wife, Ashley, is from Memphis) and Penny Hardaway (also a Memphis native who played at then Memphis State).

Last but not least, he funded and created a crazy-nice golf course in Millington that is now run by the family member that introduced him to the game.

 

 {Bridge across lake heading toward Holes 9 and 18-- Photography by Aidan Bradley}

  

 {The green on Hole 12--Photography by Aidan Bradley}

 

{Woods behind hole 15--Photograph by Aiden Bradley}

 

 

There you have it; a little trivia about the 901 and my teenage crush, Justin Timberlake, that you might not have known otherwise.