November - Gobble Gobble!!!

Wow - October went by quick....and its been a crazy couple of weeks so I'm sorry I've been gone.  My aniversary was last month and it was amazing! Hard to believe that I have been a married woman for ten whole years!! 
We finished with softball and now both kids are starting basketball.  I have to admit that I am so excited to be able to sit in the bleachers and cheer for my kids for a change :)

Derek got a promotion a few weeks ago.  It is such a blessing too - I am so proud of him.  He wasn't thrilled, it wasn't a promotion he asked for, but I think deep down he was proud of himself too.

Did I mention that  I am pumped that its November?? Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!!! I can't wait!!! Not to mention my birthday is the day before and the best shopping day of the year is the day after, so its going to be a fabulous week!!!

I LOVE....

I said in my last post I was on a journey to self re-discovery....so I am slowly trying to find myself. So, today, I am going to share 20 things that I truly love, aside from the obvious which would be my husband and my kids.

1. Severe weather - see previous posts for explanations on this..lol.

2. Softball weather - these are the days that are a little warm but cool at the same time. It feels like there is no temperature because your not hot or cold, there might be a light breeze but it doesn't bother you and you can smell the cool moisture in the air. Its the perfect day to play softball. I love those days.

3. Books. I love to read. There is nothing on the planet better than a good story to take you away from your current struggles or worries and help ease your mind.

4. Online shopping. I rarely if ever buy anything online, but I prefer to shop online at home and then go to the store to get it. That is so weird I know, but I like to read the reviews and price compare and so forth. If it is anything that costs more than $100 you can bet it takes me a month to buy it. I just spent a month and a half purchasing a new washer and dryer. Last year, I shopped for 3 months just for a new television. My husband ended up waiting until I was gone to a board meeting before he just went and bought one himself.

5. Mascara. I love mascara. I rarely go without it. I get compliments alot on my "beautiful", "long", "thick" lashes, but really, if I am not wearing mascara, you don't see them. They are few, thin and short. Without makeup I look lashless. lol.

6. My blackberry. I cannot survive without my phone. You will not see me without it and I don't know how to go the whole day without it. I am seriously attached to it. It is my lifeline. For real.

7. Weird food combinations. I think I have touched on this before....but I eat weird combinations. Easy cheese on my hot dogs, Cheez its and ranch dip, pintos and cheese with cheetos....it goes on and on. ;)

8. Disney movies. I love fairytales. I love Disney. I have always just wanted to live at Disney World. It really is the happiest place on earth. I think the old Disney movies are the best - Snow White, Robin Hood, Peter Pan. I love the music, everything.

9. Old houses. I love old houses. I think every house has a story and the older the house, the better the story. I think I get this from my love of books....my imagination tends to run wild.

10. Trees. trees are my happy place. The woods, a forest, I love them. It relaxes me and I try to keep my trees as a focal point throughout the day to keep me balanced and relaxed.

11. Sweet Tea. And nobody makes sweet tea like my dad used to.

12. Quotes. I love quotes. I don't know why but I do. I have tons of them. I write them down and try to memorize them. Whether they are inspirational or silly, I love sayings. Not cheesy ones like "just believe", but things that people can appreciate or make someone laugh. For instance, my Southern Belle shirt that I am wearing today says "Lord fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff, and nudge me when I've said enough". I love that.

13. Music. I love music. I have so many grooveshark playlists its not even funny. I have everything - Classical, songs from musicals, country, rock, love songs, easy listening, rock and roll, classic rock, you name it, I have it, and I listen to them all. regularly. Right now I am on a serious grunge kick..like 90's alternative....I also love to fall in love with some random song from a movie or tv show. I go look it up online ad find it on grooveshark. I have a playlist of just those songs. My favorite soundtracks are the Twilight Saga soundtracks. Those songs are dark and moody and for some reason I find them relaxing. I heard Peyton from One Tree Hill refer to her Ipod as "100 songs to save your life". Thats my grooveshark account. 1,000 songs to save mine. lol.

14. Pictures. I love pictures. I have a horrible memory and the only way I can remember anything is to have a picture of it. I love to flip through my photo albums.

15. Romance. I love romance. I love to be romanced. and I married a man that is soooo not into romance. Don't get me wrong, he has his moments, but in the grand scheme of things, he is not a Romeo by any means. And I have this constant need to feel like Juliet. I want him to say things to me like Edward does Bella, like Noah did Alli, like Nick did to Kat....(for you non-movie buffs out there that last couple is from Wedding Date....and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that movie). aaawww swoon *big sigh* lol.

16. Movies. Movies are really up there with books for the same reason.

17. Space. I love outerspace. I could stare at stars forever. I am a nature girl, can you tell?

18. Pineapple. I know this is totally random right? I love pineapple. Its one of my favorite thigs to eat. I love love love fresh pineapple.

19. White gummy bears. I also love the white gummy bears. The rest are not as good to me, but the white ones rock... go figure, they are pineapple!

20. Brent and Sam / Ben and Jerry. I have an ongoing love affair with four different men other than my husband.....Brent and Sam Key Lime cookies (and I hate lime, but those are DIVINE) and Ben and Jerry ice cream. Which is probably why I look like an orca whale, but some B/J chocolate fudge brownie gets me every time ;)


So, there is some random 20 things I love. I am a random person and I enjoy random. Lol.

I hope you all have a great start to the week. I have to work from home tomorrow. Due to the weather snowing us in Wed - Fri last week I believe it will be a long one!!

XOXO

C.

Best. Friday. Ever.

Not many people are blessed enough to have a boss like mine. Or coworkers. Today, instead of going to work, we met up at 8:00 a.m. and drove to Texarkana to do some shopping. All day. I got home at almost 10:00 p.m.!! I had an absolute blast. We ate breakfast on the way out, had lunch (which included the largest margaritas ever and neither my boss nor myself are much of a drinker so we had a pretty good buzz) and we laughed and talked and goofed off and shopped and had the best time. We are planning on doing it next year but it will be probably be somewhere else and we will likely stay the night. We will see. It will be like a girls time out. Loved it. It was very very much needed.

Oh, and in case you didn't get the memo...CHRISTMAS IS A WEEK AWAY!! WOO HOO!!

Thanksgiving Weekend

I know and I am so sorry its been too long. But I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! MIne was spectacular. With mom gone Thanksgiving dinner fell in my lap. I cooked the turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potatoe casserole, sweet rolls, baked potato dip, chocolate pie, and banana pudding. My sisters made the potatoes, green bean casserole, green bean wraps, cheese ball, reeses cake. We had so much food and it was soooo good. Delicious. I slept 1 1/2 hours the night before getting everything ready but it was so worth it.

Then of course, after dinner I slept about 3 hours and got up at like 3:30 in the morning for the best day of the year: BLACK FRIDAY!! I got some great deals and went shopping for like 15 hours. I got a new Christmas tree and I love it. I stayed up last night and decorated it and wrapped the presents I bought yesterday and got it all ready and put up!! I went to bed at 11:00 last night and I was so exhausted I could not stand up and my whole body was shaking. I literally slept till about 4:30 this afternoon. I got up at like 10:00 this morning and was back in bed at 11:30.

It was wonderful. Tomorrow my goal is to get my whole house cleaned up and caught up for my husband this week and then get ready for Christmas!!! :)

I hope you all wonderful holidays and enjoyed the long weekend.

OMG SO EXCITED!!!

Okay, so if you haven't figured it out by reading my blog...there are two things (among a million others) that I absolutely LOVE. Bargains and trees. Today, my friends, two of my fave things combine!

A few weeks ago I found the most beautiful picture at Kirklands. It has a pond, and an old plank bridge out onto the water and its surrounded by trees. Its like a brown and white pic and I FELL IN LOVE. I had been emailed a coupon for $5 for Kirklands and I got all excited. The picture was normally $100.00. however it was marked down to $59.99 and I had a coupon!! So I made plans that Friday to go school shopping for the kids clothes and then to Kirklands to get my picture. Then Derek called me at 2:00 p.m. that Friday and told me he had just been layed off. When I realized I couldn't get my picture, I almost cried. I was so upset. I was so excited to get my picture. So, I have dreamed about my picture and been so bummed.

Well, as you know, Derek is back at work! YaY!! Monday, I went to play bunko with my mother in law. She ended up winning a nightlight from Kirklands that she didn't want. So she gave it to me. It was purple and matched NOTHING in my house so I took it back and got store credit. $8. Then, yesterday, I was emailed a coupon for $10 for Kirklands. So I made Derek take me back to Kirkland's to see if they had my picture still on sale....THEY DO!! YAY!!!! So, I get my $100 picture for roughly $40 today if he ever makes it back!! I have been so excited I can't stand it!!

My daughter has a friend staying the night tonight so I have to wait on him to get home so I can go. I can't wait!!!! I will take a pic of my picture later and post it to show the wonderfulness of my painting!! :)

Happy Friday!!!

Sunday Scoop n HAPPY EASTER!

okay, well, I am a holiday ho. I love holidays, I love everything about them. I love how people are in happy moods on holidays. I love the food, the smells, the colors, the traditions, the excitement, the anticipation. My favorites are (in order): Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day (This is my biological dad's birthday which is why its special to me), July 4th, Memorial/Labor Days, Valentine's Day and any other day off!! ha ha ha.....

I love holidays where I get to pretend I am something special like Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny. My kids still believe in both, and I love playing it. This morning was no exception. I put the baskets out at about midnight.....Shanna woke up and there was a spider on her window in her room. She came to get daddy and after daddy dealt with the teeny spider I couldn't believe she saw, she sleepily asked him 'can I go through that easter basket I saw now?' :) how cute is she?? So I told em to come on and they came running..."ooohh,,, a frisbeeee!!!" "ooohhh, reeses eggs! I love reeses eggs" and my absolute fave quote of the morning...my darling 5 year old daughter with the biggest heart of gold in the world "LOOK MOMMY!! I GOT A BABY DUCKLING!!" (its not real, its a doll) but you couldn't tell her otherwise. This child has more baby dolls and stuffed animals than anything in the world, but if she doesn't get some kind of animal for easter, she will be devestated. She loves to walk down the aisle at walmart and just stare at all the plush bunnies, and puppies, and duckies, and chickies....ITS ADORABLE.

So we had our easter fun this morning! We did our easter egg hunt yesterday (good thing too apparently, since its pouring outside) at my friend Brooke's. We have a yearly tradition for Easter Weekend. On Friday night our kids get together and we color eggs. On Saturday about 11ish we get together and hide eggs over and over and over...then we cookout that evening and hang out. of course this year, we couldn't cook out. I had a close cousin come in from Utah and she's prego (YEAH!!) and I couldn't wait to see her so I had to go there last night, but its okay! So we had a busy day and a fun one! Nothing like cookouts and easter egg hunts!!

oh!!! and guess what!!! I found the most awesome thing yesterday!!! I live in a tiny town. very small. We have 1 stop light at the main intersection. We got that like may 6 years ago....we felt special. We have 2 gas stations, both of which sell pizza and sandwiches, one which has a car wash. They have been there since I was tiny. Well, in the last like 2 years, we have grown. We have a small bank, a Fred's and a Sonic! It's not the same tiny town it used to be! They even put a Big Red down the highway with a McDonald's...well, like a week ago they opened a Dollar General next to Fred's. Don't know why, but they did. (For the record, I am waiting on a grocery store. I want a real grocery store out here dangit!! So I don't have to go to town!! ha ha ha, I am lazy like that) I don't like Fred's. Now, I generally go to Benton for everything, grocery shopping, Wal-Mart everything. Fred's. It doesn't have my preferred brands and the few brands they do have I have to pay nearly double for unless I want to drive 15 minutes to Benton for laundry detergent when I am lookin rough cause I am cleaning house....The color bleach I usually pay like $5 for at walmart was over $8 at Fred's!! No thanks!! so we stopped yesterday to check out the DG...just to compare prices to Walmart and Fred's next door when we needed something in a pinch. OMG. Loved it. They had tons of my preferred brands, comparable to WalMArt and they are right down the road. No more going to Walmart for one cleaning item and coming out with a cart full! WOO HOO. But, what made my day...a mop. Yes, a mop. See, my linoleum floors have those little cellulite looking grooves in it...I hate it. and hopefully in the next couple of months, those floors will be gone! But for now, I have to spend about 3 hours on my hands and knees with a Mr. Clean MAgic Eraser (b/c nothing else will clean those little grooves) and mop by hand my kitchen and the bathrooms. I HATE IT. Hate. With a fiery passion that burns. My back and knees are killing me when I am through and I am so sore the next day. Well, as I was walking down the cleaning aisles at DG yesterday, I passed the mops, when the word "magic eraser" caught my eye. OH YES, there was a MOP made by Mr. Clean and the mop pad was a big ole MAGIC ERASER!!! AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!! I just about cried I was soooo excited! I paid $13 for a mop (which is ridiculous!!!) But I don't care. I would have paid $50 not to have to go on my hands and knees for hours!! My hunny just laughed at me. It is so sad that you come to a point in your life that something that makes you so happy is a mop! ha ha ha...Well, HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Weekend in Review

I had a busy weekend. We had our second tournament this weekend and our girls are getting better every day. They didn't play to their potential the first two games, but by the third...they were doing spectacular. We lost every game, but I don't care. The girls had fun, I had fun and they played so well the third game. I act as though each of those girls are my own kids and I love them to pieces. I am a mother hen like that. I don't care what people think (I know some folks think that is wierd) but when the girls are inside that fence, they are my girls :) and I could not have been a more proud mother hen than I was Saturday afternoon. We play again tomorrow and I am pumped.

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Today, me and the hubby went to eat breakfast. I decided today that I would do the unimaginable for me....I went easter shopping a week in advance. I spent less than half of what I did last year (which was obscene and when I was done and realized it, I had a small heart attack...I just get TOO into things like this...I love it, seeing their faces light up in the morning at their surprise, its just wonderful) and I finished my sons basket, the majority of my daughters and about half of my hubbys. Yes, I spoil my hubby and he gets an easter basket too. The kids ask why Mommy never gets one. Daddy says its cause mommy was bad this year (ha ha ha...then he says he is kidding) but I tell them its cause mommy told the easter bunny to not make her one but give it to some one who needs it more. :) I like to think I am teaching them a lesson in giving. That usually satisfies their curiosity some. I know my geniuos 7 year old will figure it out in a year or two...so I like to enjoy it now.

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And finally...I am a movie whore. I love movies. I watch movies all the time and I have a wide array of DVD's in my home. We watch a lot of movies. Its mine and my hubbies thing. I love em. I watched soooo many movies last weekend and this past week that I thought I would share my reviews. I was sick last Sunday and my tv isn't working so I got online and watched movies all day on my computer. Here's my rundown:

Made of Honor - LOVED IT. Patrick Dempsey is such a great romantic comedy actor and he did a spectacular job in this movie. I loved the fact that part of it was in Ireland (cause I am party Irish) and I fell in love with McDreamy all over again. Great girls night movie.

Nights in Rodanthe - Okay, well, I am completely obsessed with Nicholas Sparks novels. I read them constantly, own the majority of them, and I love them hopelessly. So, needless to say, I LOVED LOVED LOVED this movie. It was a tear jerker and a heart tugger. Great girls night movie.

Bride Wars - my computer messed up 3/4 of the way through this one, and I couldn't finish it, so I have to finish it later...but 3/4 of the way in...it was HILARIOUS. I love Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway and they had me rolling. Great date movie.

Vicki Cristina Barcelona - I am not sure I spelled that right. okay, I love me some Scarlett Johannsen. This movie was different. It was good...but wierd...first off, you got Scarlett in a three way relationship were she is sorta bi....different. It was just wierd. ITs good to watch once and get out of the rutt of just watching the same stuff over and over...but not one I would watch over and over again.

Twilight - I watched it to see what the hype was about. For the first 15 minutes...I was like "okay, this is not going to be good"....then about 1/2 way through...I was like okay - scratch that last thought, I am loving this...by the end, I was like BITE ME PLEASE. :) I am hooked.

Sex and the City - okay, I never watched the series. I caught a rerun once and I couldn't get into it. But again, watched it to see the hype. I did like it. A good girls night out movie. A little graphic at times, but overall okay.

and last but not least....

Juno - OMG...the best movie line of all time: (as she is waiving a positive pregnancy test back and forth) - "this ain't no etch a sketch...this is one doodle that can't be undid home skillet". The wit and logic of this pregnant 16 year old is absolutely hilarious. I would recommend every one watch this. It is fantastic. One of my faves for sure.

So, now you know what to watch if your in the search for a good flick in the near future. I will let you know when I watch something new. ;)

Good News/Bad News

okay, so today was a good news bad news day.

Good News: My hubby starts his new job Monday!!! (its at the same place, just a different part of the plant)...so yeah!! Why is that such good news....cause he no longer works the funky 12 hour shifts that alternate between nights and days...which means that no longer will we have two consecutive weekends every three to four weeks to make plans and no longer will I have to be single mommying it for weeks at a time like I have all month!!! Why you ask?? Because NOW my hubby works from Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.!!! SCORE! I am sooo excited to have a normal family life again. I have been feeling so alone and depressed and stressed because I am literally pulling all the family weight solo. It sucks and its stressful. No more!! I get to see my hubby and have an actual marriage again instead of a roomie! YEAH!!!

Bad News: His plant is getting to ready to lay off 40% of their employees until mid July. Boo. No idea which one yet, but I do know that for today, its not him!! Thank the Lord!! I just hope and pray that he avoids the lay off. I know those chances are slim to none right now b/c he's kind of the low man on the totem pole since he's only been there a few months...but hey, a girl can dream!!

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In other news...we start our first softball tournament this weekend. So ready for it! I can't wait. Despite the fact that two of our key players were stolen to another team less than a week ahead of time...we will recover. We got a pretty good little team and I am so excited! But of course, if this rainy weather doesn't let up, we might not get to play :(

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Oh, and more yucky news...I think I am allergic to Maybelline Mascara. It has been bugging the crap out of my eyes. So I am going to have to get new mascara. I fell in love with Sephora at Park Plaza Mall the other day. I would love to go back and play!! I could easily spend some serious money there (but I can't bring myself to actually do that) and waste an entire day there. I want to try this Dior mascara they have there...I have read AMAZING things about it...but not sure I can bring myself to spend $24 on mascara...even if the tube is like double the size of hte stuff at walmart...especially since we aren't sure if Derek is getting laid off soon...so I get to mascara shop this weekend! So excited! If there is one thing I love to shop for, its mascara. I don't know why, but mascara has always been my one "I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT" item since I was like 16. I know, I am such a dork!! But I'll let you know what I find!!

Blonde Moment for the Brunette

okay, so like I have said...I am sooo a newbie to the blogger world. I was looking at my blog's main page thing when I noticed....I HAVE A FOLLOWER!! I know her and I was just SOOOOOOOOO excited that I finally had a follower. It made my night. I know so sad....its the simple things in life that excite me! ha ha ha....So I get to looking at my blog and then I notice something else new...I have comments on some of my posts. AWESOME. I felt so goofy when I realized they were left well over a month ago and I didn't know it! So, there is my blonde moment for the month! Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude and not acknowledge. I just honestly didn't know. :)

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We got our tax return the other day and I don't like to blow money. I really don't, but if I do spend money, I like to spend it on quality things. I am such a product junkie. Big time. And I am all about brand. Some brands don't work and others are great and some products are expensive and a total waste and some are expensive and worth every penny. Shampoo and conditioner are the expensive and worth every penny category. Hair spray is too. I use Matrix and I love it. But I wait and get it on sale. and I freak every time I do it. I like literally have a semi panick attack in the car that I just spent $20 on shampoo and conditioner (even if its the liter bottles and that's a steal!)

I wore Clinique makeup all through highschool. When I had my daughter, I became a stickler about not spending more than $5 on myself at any given time. I buy $7 mascara from walmart and I still get nauseated. I have worn cheap walmart makeup since. I am very very fair and I realized when going through pictures for Dad's funeral, that several brands that looked good in person made me look like a geisha in the pictures. more particularly, the brand I am currently wearing. Very chalky and AWFUL. My hubby decided Friday that since we got our tax return and I wouldn't have to panick so bad....that it was time for me to go back to Clinique for my makeup. I was like so excited so I went and had the little facial thing done and got my makeup. I got in the car and nearly passed out that I spent $40.00 on makeup...but at the same time, I felt so excited because I got good makeup for the first time in years!! Then I went to Target and he was like 'buy more makeup' cause I was out of nearly everything. So I got cheap eyeshadows and some lipstick and new lipglosses that are so pretty!! I was so excited! oh, and a secret....I found a product a few months ago that makes ANY eyeshadow look fantabulous on and last all day without creasing...no matter how oily your skin is...Loreal Decreaser...its an eyeshadow base and I swear by it. My eyeshadow looks good from 7:30 in the morning till midnight. Like I just put it on! LOVE IT...so there you go! Enjoy! ha ha ha...