Tag Archives: Dolly Parton

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What have you been up to? My birthday was over the weekend, and I had the perfect day! Chet made a bunch of envelopes for me to open throughout the day, each with a different activity for us to complete. We went to the bagel place up the road for breakfast, hit up the thrift stores, browsed the bookstore so I could pick out some book gifts, and even saw the Downton Abbey movie! Hope you all have a great rest of your week, and here are some internet treasures I thought I should pass along…

Schools should go back to teaching teens Adulting 101.

A pro athlete on what to pack for every type of hike.

Royal correspondents on what it’s like to write about Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton.

How living near a Trader Joe’s can affect home values.

Everything you need in a 72-hour emergency backpack.

36 hours in Milwaukee.

I wonder if this lint roller works.

Will you be listening to this podcast?

This map shows you what Indigenous lands you’re living on.

The most adorable jacket for fall.

Jojo Moyes has been accused of publishing a novel with crazy similarities to another book.

The ancient world was full of warrior women.

P.S. A few Finding Delight posts you may have missed — A Decluttering Thought Exercise and How to Spruce Up Your Neutral Rental.

Advertisement

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello friends! Do you have big plans this weekend? We’re going on a day trip to a nearby state park, and we’ll also be stopping by a flea market. Who knows! Maybe I’ll find something I can’t live without. Either way, after a bunch of project deadlines this week, I’m ready for some weekend diversion! Hope the rest of your week is super sweet, and here’s a bit of reading material…

The story behind Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”

[Related: 5 reasons I can’t get enough Dolly.]

Being a mother and a champion was a crazy dream.

How fairytales are told in other tongues.

[Related: Our storytelling minds.]

These millennials got new roommates.

Anytime young people get together, the pics start flowing.

The Japanese secret to a longer and happier life.

Russia is reopening an investigation into the world’s greatest mystery.

Cute kimono for lounging poolside.

Historians have largely discarded the lie that the “frontier” was an empty Eden waiting for American expansion—but not David McCullough.

[Related: The Pioneers by David McCullough]

As thousands of taxi drivers were trapped in loans, top officials counted the money.

Homeless mom’s letter to NIMBY supporters.

A Fab Five favorite writes a new memoir.

P.S. A few Finding Delight posts you may have missed — 9 Insights from Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky and How to Spend Your Time Helping Others.

If you enjoy my blog content, please consider supporting what I do (and keeping me caffeinated). Thank you! xoxo ☕

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What are you up to this week, my friends? With Chet still out of town, I’ve been holed up getting work projects done during the day and watching ridiculous movies at night (and eating super, single-lady burritos for dinner, ha!). I’ve barely left the house since getting back from California! Speaking of, would you be interested in reading what I did in L.A.? I’m thinking about posting something on Friday. 🙂 Hope you have a magnificent evening, and here are some links for your reading pleasure…

States that give midwives a greater role in patient care achieve better results on key measures of maternal and neonatal health.

When did Americans stop marrying their cousins?

Portraits of hard living in America.

5 unexpected things happy people have in their kitchens.

Related: Tips and Tricks for Surviving (and cooking) in a Tiny Kitchen

As more American parents work low-wage jobs with unusual hours, they’re turning to 24-7 daycare centers to help raise their children.

Dolly Parton likes to give away books.

Related: 5 reasons I can’t get enough Dolly

The new “Queer Eye” is a reboot, not a retread.

Have you ever used magnesium oil to help with muscle soreness?

Men write history, but women live it.

Related: Books to read if you’re in search of a history lesson…

Wouldn’t this look adorable on the mantel of a California bungalow?

The homeless in L.A. are not who you think they are.

Why inner-city schools don’t have mass shootings.

P.S. A few Finding Delight posts you may have missed — Lexington Eats: Where + What and Five Great Poetry Books!

5 reasons I can’t get enough Dolly.

Media, , , , , , , , , , , ,

dollyparton

This big-hair, big-boobs, big-voice country music icon is my everything! Her songs are catchy as all get out and I could watch “9 to 5” any day of the week and twice on Sundays. I also love that when she got rich and famous, she invested her earnings into business opportunities in East Tennessee. Creating jobs and helping the economy of a struggling part of the country. Even if Pigeon Forge is tacky as all hell, just like her, it is my Mecca and she is my Queen. I can not get enough Dolly Parton. Here’s why…

1. This hauntingly beautiful song which might not be about what everyone thinks — 

Dolly has said in many interviews over the years that “Jolene” was inspired by a young girl who came up to her after one of her shows. Red hair, green eyes, fair skin; Dolly thought Jolene was the prettiest name she’d ever heard and promised to write a song about the child. Dolly and her husband couldn’t have children. Which makes the song take on a whole new context. Perhaps Dolly was afraid to lose her love to someone who could give him a child? Is that what he was talking about in his sleep?

2. These quotes are speaking to my soul — 

“Storms make trees take deeper roots.”

“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”

“If anyone tells you your hair is too big, get rid of them. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.”

3. Dolly doesn’t have time for judgmental bullshit —

She speaks out about her love for ALL people and believes judgement is the greatest sin of all.

4. Leaving a little something to mystery —

Is her body covered in secret tattoos? Still leaving the world guessing at 69 years young.

5. Just in case it was unclear —

dalai dolly

This photo I posted to my Facebook profile, circa 2006, spells it out for you. Basically these two are the samesies. So samesies that I labelled them. In short, I’ve never encountered a Dolly/Dalai I didn’t like.

Do you love Dolly, too? Ever been to Dollywood? What’s your favorite thing about this bombshell? Let’s all load up the van and head down to Pigeon Forge! 

Check out 5 reasons I can’t get enough RuPaul.

P.S. Here’s a picture of Katie and I straight KILLING IT at Dollywood about a decade ago.

dollywood

P.P.S. If anyone wants to get me THIS for my birthday, I would obviously be really into that. Not that I worship false idols or anything…I worship ACTUAL idols. Different.