Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
I look back at pictures of myself in high school, and I was a cheerleader, and I had hair just as thick if not thicker and long - down to my hips.
I'll be honest: I naturally have a pretty good eyebrow shape. I always have. I would get made fun of when I was younger because they were so thick.
My friends know I'm a really big movie buff, and I named Vivianne after a movie character. She was named after Vivianne Walker in 'Ya Ya Sisterhood.'
I'm going to be that little old lady that's just, like, walking around and just, like, full of energy, probably with bright red hair or something crazy.
Every single sport works out your body in a different way, and you can almost point out their bodies - like, that's a swimmer, that's a football player.
Taking a walk here and there and eating healthy is great. But I also feel like confidence and body image have a lot to do with how you feel on the inside.
I love to feel clean. Whenever I was touring and doing shows, the minute I was done, I would immediately shower, take off all my makeup, and put on my PJs.
Eric and I have a pact. Offseason, we focus on my career. And during the season, I try to be the best wifey. I make sure he has a warm dinner to come home to.
Every mom knows it's hard to take care of yourself while you're trying to take care of your children because, when you become a mother, you become so selfless.
Having a family is just my fave altogether. I love having these babies that love you unconditionally. It's amazing to always have such strong love. I feel so fulfilled.
Red carpet is always fun, but you're never going to see me on the street or in the grocery store in 6-inch heels. But I am always going to have big, fabulous hair and makeup.
Pack lightly. If I'm anywhere a week or less, I carry on. I can fit everything I need in one small bag! And I pack small, mini liquids so TSA doesn't make me throw anything out.
My mom did this in the '90s. She'd put a bandana in her hair, cutoff jeans and throw flannel, and I just remember looking at her thinking she was the most beautiful supermodel ever.
I write in the weirdest places. I wrote 'Girl on the Coast' in my car with the kids in the back and Eric driving. I just wrote the whole thing on my phone. I just typed out the lyrics.
They say pregnancies can differ depending on whether you're carrying a girl or boy, so for me, I think having a little boy is definitely easier on my body - or I'm just better prepared!
What does get hard is when I'm put in the box of, 'Oh, she just woke up one day, did a reality show, and decided she wants to be a singer.' That's offensive, and it's not the case with me.
For me, I feel like I'm slowly accomplishing what I've always wanted to do. I've always dreamed really big, and my mom planted that in all three of my siblings: 'You guys can do anything.'
When I was pregnant with my daughter Vivianne, I gained 55 lbs. I was so swollen. I craved anything that would make any woman gain a ton of weight, and I was sick for five months straight.
If you walk into the room, and you're smiling and have a pep in your step, people are going to be drawn to you. If you walk into a room and you're sad and you look insecure, it's bad energy.
I signed with Big Yellow Dog and have been with them for years. The president of the company is a woman named Carla Wallace, who is an amazing publisher who just has a knack for female artists.
I think the best tip I've ever learned is contouring with a really light concealer under the eye around the nose. And then powdering over it immediately. It makes it stay and gives it a natural look.
I would have to say my favorite thing about hosting 'Redneck Island 4' was the cast. They were the most genuine, fun, and down-to-earth Southerners. They just reminded me of the kids I went to school with.
I think I get my alone time when I have to go fly and do a work trip. After work's done, I go check into my hotel, and I get to have a few hours to myself to order room service and just be quiet and silent.
I have containers and containers of clothes that I've hoarded in my attic, and I probably should give them away to give good use, but I am selfishly wanting to hold on it because I'm like, 'What if I need that?'
When I got married and when my sister got married, my mom made us both individual cooking books with all of our family recipes and pictures and kind of the history with our Sicilian family, so that was really special.
For me, the best way to unwind at the end of the day while I'm pregnant is to take a nice, long soak. I get in my bathtub, download a show onto my computer, prop it up on a chair, and just lie there watching and relaxing.
My mom is a beautiful, amazing woman. We didn't have a ton of money growing up, and even, at one point, we were living on food stamps. But my mom still managed to make sure we ate healthy and were always fed nutritious meals!
When I was younger, I was relying on those young-girl genetics. I wasn't watching what I was eating or looking at nutrition. Now I'm paying attention, and my body is leaner. I'm healthier. I'm eating better. I'm just in better shape.
I love our country so much. And we should all love and respect each other because this is the greatest country in the world. I see the love. I see the unity in all walks of life on a daily basis and It makes me so proud to be an American.
I'm really proud of 'Coming Home.' I wrote that about Eric, and I just feel like it's very relatable for anyone who has to be away from their loved ones, you know, for long periods of time - our military, people who are working. It's pretty special.
I moved all the time as part of a military family, and I just really did not have very many friends. I remember having these feelings of walking into a room and feeling that nobody likes me, or thinking, 'I'm going to have to sit alone at lunch again.'
I used to write about experiences that a 20-year-old would write about - going out with your friends, having a drink. You know, things were a little bit sexier in a different way. Now, you know, I'm a mom, and I want to filter some of the things that I say.
For me, my one thing is eyelash extensions. I always have them on cause they just do all the work and let everything look better. If I have eyelash extensions on, I will put on some under eye concealer and maybe, like, an illuminating moisturizer and call it a day.
I think women sometimes stop flirting with their husbands, and you can't. Men want to want feel good - they want to feel like their women love them. When they come home from work, don't start nagging them with questions. Go up to them and give them a big kiss and ask them how their day was.
I think the one I'm most proud of as a songwriter is 'Breaking Your Heart' because it was just a different style for me. It was very - I feel like it was very old-timey Patsy Cline. It's got a very '50s feel to it, and I pushed myself to write those lyrics very intimately with my co-writer Ted Bruner.
If I'm not feeling so hot during the day - maybe I couldn't sleep, and the kids are wearing me out, and I'm not feeling very cute - I might go and curl my hair and put on some lipstick and put some fun music on. And that builds my confidence. It's the small things. You have to find out what works for you.
I hate those unrealistic goals that people place on women. It's just not right. It took us nine months to have our babies and put on this weight. I gained 55 pounds with my daughter, so I get it. It's tough. But you can't just pop out a baby and expect to be the size you were before. It just doesn't work like that.
I make Eric pick up from this little local place in Nashville that has really good honey whole wheat bread. It's near where he works out in the morning, so I make him pick up a loaf, and the kids eat it, too. I'll just keep passing out toast all morning. The kids just walk around with crumbs everywhere; we don't care.
For the most part, I keep it true to who I am with Southern, trendy, and comfortable looks. I like to bring that element when I go to places like Los Angeles and New York City because I know a lot of people have a set look there, and I like to be different, and I am still going to wear my Daisy Dukes and my denim overalls.
When you have kids, it can be hard sometimes because you've got to find creative ways to spend time with each other. So with 'Lights Down Low,' I wanted to just write about all the things that we do to try to keep the love alive in creative ways, because you can't always go out on a date... but you can make a date at home.
It's kind of cheesy, but my mama, who you all have seen on the show, says to cook for your man. She's Southern, so when he comes home, be pullin' a pie out of the oven. That's always been her advice, and you know what? It works. Your man wants to see you in the kitchen, puttin' some love into some food; it works for Eric, that's for sure.
Love is what makes you do everything. It really does conquer all. With my first album, I was writing about empowerment hoping that would make it true. And now it is. I'm in charge. I make the rules. I've been writing since I was nine years old and I'm very much involved in the creative process. And now that I'm in a happier place in my personal life, I'm spitting songs out left and right.