Its about a young man in Easley that is going to attend the Governors School in Hartsville.

I’m so impressed by him and his family– I love their closeness and attitude about life.

Click here to read the article in the New York times.

(hat tip to: Laurin Manning)

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

Merry Christmas (or Happy Hanukkah if the case may be) to all of my readers! Thanks so much for your continued support and readership. I hope that your holidays have been and will continue to be wonderful.

If you are out riding around looking at lights tonight, don’t miss Christmas lane out past South Florence. Comment here with your favorite light displays!

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

We talked a lot about coffee in the Pee Dee yesterday. I am enjoying my morning cup from Kripsy Kreme, and do plan to try out Aroma Underground after all of the glowing recommendations. That will be my afternoon cup as the KK drive through is just too convenient and their coffee is just too good for me to give up. I’m getting back to basics this month, mainly because I am creatively stymied lately. A long time ago we had an in depth discussions on Florence grocery stores. Sadly, I see no reason to believe we will get a Publix anytime soon.

I think that Harris Teeter– especially with its recent updating– is easily the nicest grocery store in the area. I really like their soups that they carry– especially the New England Clam chowder. However, I can now not remember where anything is–so a quick trip takes a lot longer for me. Also? I’m sorry couponers, but I hate getting in line behind someone with a three ring binder. I also feel like I need to look nice, have on at least lipstick and have on earrings to go in the Teeter. My mother gets distressed to think I sometimes go around town without any makeup, but it is a fact of my life that I do.

Piggly Wiggly is probably my second favorite– Second Loop, not Florence Mall. I really like when they say “Would you like your milk to be free and use .5 books of greenback stamps?” “Why YES, YES I WOULD!” They also carry Bluebell Ice Cream, of which I am a big fan.

Sometimes I go to Bi-Lo. I like their specials and it isn’t too far of a drive. I especially like their BOGOF specials that they run. If I see their ad on twitter or in the paper, I may drive a little out of my way to go there.

I almost forgot Aldi! Thanks for reminding me Amy. When I have time, I go to Aldi first. You can’t get every thing that you need, but what you do get has a great price. I get milk, spinach leaves, cheese, and kids snacks almost every time. Their prices on Havarti and mozzarella are pretty amazing.

Truthfully though? I go to Food Lion most often. I have been shopping there since I rode in the buggy with my own mother, and I know where just about every item is. They have good sales, and they carry the yogurt that my kids love. They also have that Dollar General right next door and I get my cleaning supplies and storage bins there.

Comment below– Where do YOU like to do your grocery shopping?

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I’m happy its Wednesday… happy it is finally cooling off outside… and just happy in general.  I am going to have a fun weekend that includes a trip to the fair and the farmers market (though I totally missed the plant and flower show, yikes).  I know you are all waiting on an announcement about the winner of the tickets to see Lady Antebellum at the Civic Center– but I think I will let the suspense hang in the air a little longer.

The Merry Markplace will also be at the Civic Center starting Friday, and I will cruise by there at some point. This always puts me in a good mood, and allows me to do some Christmas shopping as well.  This year I am actually ahead of the Christmas shopping rush.  As much as I hated to see Books a Million close, I was able to snag some good deals.

If you are looking for Friday night plans, you should check out “The Wonder Bread Years” at the FMU Performing Arts Center and then head over to Alchemy (formerly Fountainhead) for a cocktail or mocktail.  I am beyond thrilled to have the FMU PAC as a Flossip Sponsor– sponsors are the reason I can keep writing this on a regular basis without having a nervous breakdown.    ”The Wonder Bread Years” is a fast-paced, hilarious production that gracefully walks the line between stand-up and theater. Audiences across the country are enjoying a show that not only restores a much-needed sense of wonder, but leaves audiences laughing and savoring the past like never before.

Next week I will be SUPER busy with fun things to do– and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.  I”ve been invited on an interesting secret destination dinner that I hope to be able to tell you all about.

What are YOU doing this weekend?

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

Hate the power lines but love the rainbow!

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

A local company is looking for honest feedback from 18-29 year olds in our community. They will be conducting this research on July 19 at Redbone Alley. All you have to do is show up, answer some questions, and get your gift card. Here is a link to sign up. I used to do this a lot when I was in college. In all honesty, I was skeptical when I first saw the link. However, I do know the company and it is not a scam. So– if you are 18-29 and want some free Redbone food– go for it!

I can’t tell you who the company is though, as it may skew their results.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

Now that the Anniversary contests are over, I want to say thank you to all of you lovely readers. Thanks to all of you that click my website every day. Thanks to all you that voted for me in the Best of the Pee Dee Contest (2nd Place– WOW!!) and thanks to everyone that comments and emails. People ask me why I write this website. Some days it is a source of frustration, but I really enjoy the sense of community that I have found. I have learned that there is plenty to do right here in Florence– you just may have to look for it.

The amazing thing is how much our lives have changed since the website began. Mr. Flossip and I both became more active in the community. Through that we have found an enormous group of friends that we love and respect. I honestly believe that writing here is largely responsible for that happening. To those friends that know that I write this website– a very special thank you to each and every one of you. Thank you for being a trusted confidant, for listening to me whine and cry on occasion, for sending me information about things to do in Florence, and for just being you. I wish that I could thank you individually, and let this entire town know how great you are… but that would be somewhat revealing of who I am.

People ask why I remain anonymous– and there is no clear cut answer on that. The concealed identity and website were something of a lark when I began. Lots of bloggers write behind pseudonyms (see: Busy Mom). It makes it a little mysterious for the reader, protects my kids when I talk about them on the internet, allows me a little freedom of expression– I don’t feel quite so much like I am putting myself out there for my entire town to read. Yet, when it comes down to it– I stand behind what I write. This is one reason I keep my website positive. I don’t believe in hiding behind a fake identity to bring others down. You can believe everything that I write, I just don’t post negative reviews. Sometimes the sound of silence is the answer to my opinion on a restaurant. People seem to largely enjoy the mystery of who I am, so I plan to keep it that way. I do ask that if you suspect you have me figured out… don’t spoil it for others.

Thanks to my friend that steps in and plays Flossip on occasion. It is very nice to know I can breathe easily on occasion and things will be maintained.

To Mr. Flossip who puts up with late nights, some fussing and cursing, and helps me to think of things to write. I love that we have started to do more of the site together.

Thanks to my mom and my boss who help me remember that there is always someone reading that will tell me if I crossed a line. Thanks to my boss for understanding this website and what it means to me and to Florence! That is a special boss indeed!

Also, a special thanks to the twitter community. You are all my “peeps” and make this a lot more fun! You provide me with insight and inspiration every day. Thanks to the macnerds for the super fabulous app and to Palmetto First for being such a great sponsor.

All in all, this has been a positive experience in my life. Realistically it wouldn’t BE an experience without all of you dropping by every day. So, drop in, read a little, comment a little… and know that I appreciate you.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I work in a workplace (don’t you like when I give details about who I am?) and every summer we have teenagers sending in applications for summer jobs. I don’t know first hand how the economy has affected teenagers and summer jobs, but I had some lovely ones myself. I was always babysitting in addition to whatever other job that I had. Generally when my friends and I babysat, we were paid way less than minimum wage. I don’t know why the going rate is currently $10.00 an hour, but I need some babysitters that had my mindset back then. Mr. Flossip worked some down and dirty landscaping jobs– but he loved that. **I** loved it when he worked at Bentons. Hottie waiter and I got to eat lunch there to ogle him? Win/win in my opinion.

Of course, any summer job I had is overshadowed by the fact that my mother working ‘bacca in the summers. At least, thats what she told me every time I complained. “You think mopping out bathrooms is bad? Try working in the tobacco field in this heat! Then walking uphill a thousand miles!” (There is no uphill in the farm land of the Pee Dee, but she probably did throw that in for good measure.)

I strongly believe that once you are legally old enough to have a summer job– you SHOULD. My kids will, unless they are involved in some athletic or cultural activity that takes up their day and exempts them. (Sorry kids, its a hard life.)

Here are some of the super fabulous jobs and tasks that I had as a teenager:

1) Gift wrapper at Belk: I actually loved this job, especially during Christmas season. I got to talk to people, I stayed busy, and best of all? I worked in the mall! Yay for shopping during your lunch break. Of course, that did cut into my profits from working.

2) Lifeguard: In my opinion this was the best job ever. I made it last as many years as possible. I got to work on my tan, exercise, and… oh yeah… keep people from drowning. I actually only had to jump in after a few swimmers that got in over their head (literally). There was always a good group of kids that I worked with and going to work was generally fun… except the years that I also had to be a …

3) Short Order Cook: Yuck. Cleaning a grill? Yuck. Wearing flip flops in the kitchen? Yuck. Kids demanding cheese sticks every three seconds? Yuck, yuck, and more yuck. I can actually taste that particular brand of cheesesticks as I type this. Yuck. More yuck than the cooking though was…

4) Mopping out bathrooms at a swimming pool. Y’all. Little kids are GROSS. Especially at the pool. Now that I have kids, I realize this is more true than ever… but its not as bad when they BELONG TO YOU.

5) Random clerical job: I worked somewhere that had misprinted about 10,000 brochures. I spent months working in a tiny closet with a white out pen and a stamp to correct the mistake. This was, quite honestly, the worst job ever. I am a social creature by nature and like to be around people. I still cringe at this place of business just thinking about that tiny closet. I think this job is also where I developed claustrophobia.

6) Clerk at a state agency: This was pretty decent. I got to be in charge of shredding. There is something lovely about the mind numbing brainlessness of shredding an entire room of documents.

Friends and I were discussing their jobs as waiters the other night. This is one job that I never had… and that is probably a good thing. It is entirely probable I would have been fired for dumping food in a patron’s lap. Patience is not always my strong suit.

What about you? Where did you work during summers?

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I love checking my post office box! I got a few Christmas cards, a mix CD, AND a lovely gift from the Pecan Festival Committee. They listed me along with the Media Sponsors, how cool is that? They also sent me a Pecan Festival t-shirt. Thanks to everyone that reads and especially to all of you that sent gifts and cards this Christmas!

Flossip

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I was reading a post at Busymom’s website and I so agree with her about never knowing what to take someone for dinner (or supper as you may prefer). I get chills when someone says, “What night would you like to take the family dinner?” Its not that I can’t cook or even that I don’t enjoy cooking– its that I honestly don’t know what to take.

I used to call Benton’s and special order his chicken pot pie (My favorite thing on earth), but I don’t have that option anymore. I also agree that Lasagna is a cop out (albeit one that I have used on many occasions).

How about you? What is your signature dish? And… what is the recipe!?

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.