Joyful, Joyful I adore thee!

Friends and Fitness...

2012-01-22T22:24:00.000-08:00

Good evening!

Today was a really good day! I worked out, made a nice breakfast for my little family, spent some quality time at my friends house, managed to cook BBQ beef sandwiches and baked beans, had a friend over, watched television, played the WII with NeeNee, cleaned up some and now I am here!

I had an okay weekend but did some serious cheating on my WW. I ate more than I should, but am back in the grind of things as of this morning! I lost 2 lbs this week and I was happy. Not overly excited, as there are things I could have done a little better. I need to start focusing on my food choices, even though I have been staying within range of my points. I have been working out, took two days off and I was back at it this morning! I have been drinking alot of Diet Cokes and that needs to stop, as drinking water is so much better for me! I probably could have seen a little lower of a number on the scales, had I drank more WATER! So my goal this week is to limit my intake of the sodas, and increase my water. Lets see how I do!
When I woke up this morning, I was SO tired and didnt want to do anything at all except veg out and spend time with my family. I sat on my couch and instantly thought that " I am just going to take another day off from working out and will go tomorrow". NEGATIVE! I immediately got up, put my shoes on and was out the door, on the way to the gym. I was so proud of myself for actually going, because that little voice inside me was pushing me to NOT go! I didnt do as much as I normally do because I was tired, but hey, I still went, got my sweat on and made it through another day at the gym!

Tonight was alot of fun! I had a great friend of mine come over and its 1228AM and she just left! I LOVE getting to spend time with her. She is my twin when it comes to thought processes, beliefs, circumstances and really cheers me on and makes me feel great about myself! I love that girl!

Hope yall have a great week! I am going to workout again in the morning, and if I still am tired, I know its because I always work out late at night. I have the most energy then, and I am not sure why! :)

American Idol

2012-01-18T21:44:00.000-08:00

DID YOU WATCH IT? I am so excited once again for one of my favorite shows to start up! I absolutely love to watch the auditions, but I like to watch the actual finalist compete more. Song selection is everything, and they lose my vote if they dont sing a song I like or a song that I even know! ( I know, terrible! ) I just learned that Steven Tyler is 64 years old! I cant believe this and I guess it is because he acts so young and dresses even younger. Those outfits and hair that he has just kills me! I love his personality totally though and am so glad that he is on there! I really like that NBA dancer that made it through and the last man that sang his own rendition of Thriller, by Michael Jackson. Good start to an awesome show!

I did not work out tonight because I worked out the past five nights and was ready to have a break. Tomorrow night I will be going to the gym, and I will do only 10 minutes on the elliptical trainer and then I am going to be doing the weight machines. I look forward to this small change and may do that routine a few tims this coming week. I weigh in Friday and am excited!

I am thinking about taking NeeNee to see Beauty and the Beast at some point tomorrow if I can get my grocery shopping done and get the bills paid! I am taking my mother in law somewhere special on Feb 11th so I have to get those plans confirmed tomorrow as well! I promise I am going to start posting pictures, and am going to be doing a giveaway soon! More details to come! Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!

Greetings

2012-01-17T22:00:00.000-08:00

Good Morning everyone!

Whew! Day 5 of working out is totally complete, and I feel so good. I really desire to get the desire to work out every day, just like taking a vitamin, or taking a shower. Its just something that you do as part of your routine, and this time, I really want to succeed at it!
I called a good friend of mine to see if she would be interested in going with me to the gym to hit the treadmills, and she said yes! We spent our time at the gym just talking and I must say that it went by so fast! I loved having her there with me and I hope that she wants to go again soon!
I absolutely love working out while jamming on my Ipod. I love to have it blasting as loud as it will go! I wanted to share my top 10 workout songs that I MUST play every time to get me going, and keep me moving! In no particular order...here they go!

1. Pump It -Black Eyed Peas
2. Liberty Walk-Miley Cyrus
3. Viva La Vida-Coldplay
4. Disturbia-Rhianna
5. Pon De Replay-Rhianna
6. Womanizer-Britney Spears
7. Gotta Get Through This-Daniel Bedingfield
8. Be My Lover-LaBouche
9. Blue (Da Ba Dee)-Eiffel 65
10. Everybody, Everybody-Black Box

I have about 200 songs on that small little contraption that I carry around and I LOVE to skip songs and find one with a great beat to walk to! I cant wait to start on the Elliptical this coming week, in addition to my walking! I have been eating alot more fruit, and drinking more water as well, so I havent been feeling hungry, or having that headachey feeling.
American Idol is coming on tomorrow night! I am so excited! My friend is going to come over and watch it with me and hopefully it will turn into a weekly watch party! (healthy snacks only!) Today is going to be a good cleaning day for me. I am taking the day off from the gym and scrubbing my house! Nothing better than a clean house feeling! I am going to have the hubs take a picture of me to post as well, kind of a before pic...and maybe each week I will wear the same outfit, so we can see my progress. Have a great day!

Chilly day!

2012-01-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

Whew! What a CHILLY day outside! It looks as though it would be warm, but when you open the door the wind is fierce and just plain bitter out there! NeeNee woke up at the crack of dawn this morning and told me that she called her Mema and that she wanted to go over there to spend the morning with her. Sooooo I got out of my warm bed, drove her to her Mema's house and ended up staying there for a little bit.

I went to Subway and got a turkey sandwich with honey mustard ( I am a MAYO girl! ) and it had all the fixins that I love love love! Spinach, lettuce, onion, and jalapenos! Baked BBQ Lays and a Diet Coke! Pretty low point lunch and I am still full!

I am still feeling great! I went to a friends house last night and when I got home I was very hungry and very tired, but I still managed to go and do my walk at the gym and I felt great! I was NOT going to have any excuse. I was awake enough to go sit on my behind at her house and chat, so I was determined that I was going to hit the treadmill! The gym was SO BUSY that time of night! I was really shocked, because you would think that most folks would be at home sleeping. I guess they thought the same thing when they were hitting the gym!

Little bit of laundry going and getting ready to clean my kitchen! When the hubs gets home from work tonight, I plan on hitting the treadmill again. It will be my 5th workout this week and I am proud. Friday, I will increase my time and possibly go up in the incline to a level 1. Excited for weighing in too but I am not going to get my hopes up too high, OR my expectations! When I lose my 120 pounds, I am making my dad take me on a trip to Australia. :) What he doesnt know is that he is going to be paying for it too! :) LOL! Love you dad!

My New Journey!

2012-01-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon!
Its been quite a while since my last update, and I know that no one checks this anymore because I NEVER post! I am going to try to use this as my personal journey for my attempt at Weight Watchers. I started WW back on Friday, the 13th and am on my 4th day. Its going well so far, I have been tracking everything that I have been eating, and even working out!

I have tried WW once or twice before, but always struggled with the recipe builder portion of this plan. Back when I had done this plan before, I never knew how to submit my recipe to my tracker and track my points. This time around I have decided that I was going to take the time and figure it out once and for all! I am excited to say that I have won this battle! I now have the ability to figure out all of the new recipes I want to try and configure their PointsPlus values! Yay!

I have been walking the past three nights, 25 minute walks at 3.0 mph. I am going to be increasing this next week to 30 minutes and do my increase in 5 minute intervals. When I get to 35 minutes, I am going to increase my speed by a few notches! Hopefully this will break my bad habit of being lazy, and develop a NO EXCUSES mentality!

Earlier in 2011 I decided that this was going to be the summer that we go to Walt Disney World in Florida. I had the embarassing experience of going to Six Flags a few years ago with my niece and NeeNee (my 5 year old) and got denied admission to a ride that NeeNee wanted to go on. I was too big for the seatbelt to shut properly. My brother had to ride it with her and I was very disappointed in myself. So, here we are, a few years later, and I am going to commit to this and finally shed some weight so when I do go to Disney this summer, there wont be ONE RIDE THAT I CANT RIDE DUE TO MY WEIGHT! I am VERY excited about this! A few times during my workout, I have wanted to just stop and go home back to the comfort of my couch, and all I thought about was Disney and having to look at NeeNee and tell her that I cant ride with her because of my size. NO MORE! Yay!!! I am so excited!

Have a wonderful week! My first weigh in date is Friday, and I am very excited! I hope that I have a loss of at LEAST 2lbs, but if not, I am NOT AND WILL NOT be discouraged! I am going to keep going! :)

Merry Christmas!

2010-11-30T21:44:00.000-08:00

hello all!
Its been quite the season around here, and I am so so excited for this holiday season! There is so much to be thankful for, and so much to look forward to!
All of my Christmas decor has been up since before Thanksgiving, and the Christmas music is the only thing that we listen to around here now! this is my FAVORITE time of year! I love the weather changing, leaves turning different colors, the mad shoppers and all their packages, the great sales, the lights and decor, all of the awesome holiday shows...I could go on and on!
We are making some changes around my household that I am excited about! I am ready for this new chapter to begin and cant wait to see what the Lord has in His master plan for our lives! Hopefully i can try once again to be a faithful blogger, its so so hard with a now 4 year old who thinks she is grown running around here! She takes up most of my time, other than the bills, cooking, cleaning...
Will be sharing soon pics of my Christmas decor! Hope everyone has a wonderful night!

Day 7: Favorite movies!

2010-10-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

OH how I am LOVING this blogzarre! Todays topic is favorite movies...I have alot so be prepared! If you would like a synopsis of the movie, just click on the movie title! Link up HERE!

I love movies. These days I dont get to watch them very often since I am busy being a mother to a three-almost-four-year-old....and taking care of everyday life! In no particular order...here is a listing of my favorite movies!

1. Toy Story
2. Pretty Woman
3. For The Boys
4. The Notebook
5. Newsies
6. The Outsiders
7. Steel Magnolias
8. Blood Diamond
9. Grease
10. the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

I would love for you to tell me your favorite movies! I am really trying to get back into watching one at least once per week, and I would love to see movies that I have not seen yet. The list above I created, I have seen each of those movies a THOUSAND times and never get tired of them! Hope you enjoy!

PS- I visited a new bakery in a surrounding area today...its called Gimme Sugar and it was fantastic! They made a wonderful strawberry cupcake that was to die for...and I bought a piece of cake too that was Amaretto cake with a almond paste through the center...DIVINE!

day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy!

2010-10-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

OHHH FOR SURE this is an easy peasy one! Todays blog is about a picture of something that makes you happy! Link up HERE!

The following pics are just an INKLING of what makes me happy....yes I know, once again food....:) My sister got to make a trip here with my youngest niece, Sophie (Sassy as Natalie likes to call her and Joonie as my mother likes to call her) We totally got to go to a bakery here in Dallas that specializes in cupcakes called the Cupcakery. Mind you, these are not as good as they look, but it was the cutest little shop and I can NEVER pass up a cupcake! Something so simple and happy about them! Captions pertaining to the photos are UNDER them.

This is Sophie and Natalie at the Cupcakery. I love this picture so much. Natalie finds the best friend card in Sassy and I am SO pleased! Nothing better than cousins sharing cupcakes! Natalie had the Orange Julius flavor one and Sophie had the Strawberry Champagne one or something like that!

I of course....had the Almond Joy flavored one! Arent these beautiful?~

Okay okay okay. DILL IS THE BEST BEST BEST THING EVER! I PUT IT IN EVERYTHING THAT I COOK!! SPAGHETTI! PIZZA! CHICKEN! SOUP! PORK!!! ANYTHING!!! RUSH OUT NOW AND GET SOME!!!!! :) I couldnt resist this picture....its just for my mother since she always makes fun of me for using this spice...a little over much!
BTW-these pics were NOT taken by me, my sister has the best camera ever and I couldnt take credit for these! Now, get off the couch, rush to the bakery and get a cupcake!!!

Day 5: Siblings!

2010-10-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

Day 5 on this blogzarre (like my new word?!) is about siblings! Woo hoo! Link up

here!

So meet my awesome brother and sister! I think that we truly are each others best friends! I cannot think of a luckier person out there that could have better siblings than I do! We are so very close and love love love each and every minute that we have together. Since my sister lives in another state, its hard, so we really have to make the best of the little time we do have!

My brother is your typical brother.....constantly in my ear about things that I find the GROSSEST! HAIRY MOLES, passing gas, stinky nasty feet...you name it! He is also the biggest Florida Gators fan...EVER. Its a fun obsession to have, as buying things for him is pretty easy! I love you Paul! Thank you for being the best brother ever!

My sister Paulette is NOT your typical sister either....years of abuse I recieved. Pinning me down on the ground when I was a little girl holding my eyes wide open and blowing as hard as she could.....rolling me over and digging her pointy little elbow in my back....I'll get you my pretty...... :) Oh wait, I truly think that its total payback of all the times that I ate her Bonne Bell lipgloss and all of her buttermints that she got for Christmas. HAHAHA!! On a serious note, she is my other best friend and we just have the best time together! She is caring, loving, giving....I could go on for hours! Anypoo....thanks to you both for making my life ~~miserable~~...I mean lovely. :) I love you both so very much!

Day 4....the PARENTS!

2010-10-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

Todays topic in the blog journey is all about parents! There is no blog in the world big enough to describe the goodness of my parents. I could write a 1000 page book about them....in tiny font! I am linking up from Katies Journey this morning, and if you would like to link up, please do so!

Who couldnt LOVE these faces? My parents have been married for 41 years and seriously? You would think that they are still on their honeymoon. My parents are the best parents in the world, and I thank the Lord for them each and every day. My mom and dad are truly my best friends in this life (other than my brother, sister and husband of course!) I could go on for days and days, but they know exactly how I feel and I am sure that if you met them, you would feel the exact same way! My mother NEVER takes pics, so getting her in this one, I have to thank my sister for!

Day 3 (My first Love!)

2010-10-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Well folks! Its day 3 on this blog journey that Katies Journey is hosting! If you want to take part....link up!

My first love.....ahhhhhh.

Shaun....a very quiet person, unlike me who is loud and obnoxious...how does he deal with it?!

Getting a picture of his is totally like pulling teeth! He is a great husband and great father....and very much my best friend in life!

Except when he is smashing that fattening cake in my face...

I love you Shaun!!!! You make me so very happy and wouldnt do life with anyone else!

30 Day Blog Journey!

2010-10-12T22:37:00.000-07:00

Over at Katies Journey, she is hosting a 30 day blog journey that I am really excited about! Hopefully it will break my terrible habit of going long periods without posting anything! So we are off! I am doing day one and day two in this post! I hope that I am following directions closely!

DAY TWO (meaning behind your blog name)

I dont really have a meaning behind it. I was thinking long and hard about what I should call it, and went back and forth with a few ideas. Finally I decided to name it... Joyful, Joyful I Adore Thee....mainly because when I blog, I like to post about things that peak my interest or things that make me happy as well as things I LOVE. In my first few posts I was a Negative Nelly. My mother enlightened me that no one wants to read blogs where the writer constantly talks negatively or complains all the time. So I stopped writing altogether for awhile. I then came to a point where I agreed with her and started over....with new perspective! She was right, because that is one of the first things that I now notice about blogs....if you are a chronic complainer, I dont want to hear about it all the time! Be joyful! :)

DAY ONE (pic, intro, 15 facts)

Hello there! My name is Audrey and I am a 30 year old girl in love with my husband of almost 7 years, and my three year old daughter. I am currently in school studying a couple of things, real estate number one and attempting Nursing as number two! I have many interests that I love to dabble in and am really trying to figure out what it is in life that I want to be! I know I am getting old, but hey, at least I keep trying right?!

15 Interesting Facts about me....... in no particular order

1. I love to sing when I am in the bathroom taking a bath. I belt out a tune like no other, and whether or not it sounds good, I still sing!

2. I have a very strong hatred of feet. Anything that has to do with feet. They are the ugliest things in the entire world, and I have yet to ever find a pair that peaks my interest in any way. How in the world do those girls at the salons give pedicures?! GROSS! What about Podiatrists? Thats even worse! (excuse me while I vomit a little....)

3. I have the best church EVER! I just recently joined a church here in the DFW area and I must say that I dont think I have ever been so excited or on fire in my life! I love everything about it!

4. I have a sick obsession with candles, perfumes, lotions, hand sanitizers....anything with smell. I would spend my last penny on a candle.

5. I sell Scentsy! Its my new addiction, and I sell it just to be the first to know when a new scent, warmer, or event is coming!

6. I love Facebook. I love Frontierville and Farmville. Sick. I know this.

7. I have a strong desire, among many to be a mortician. Hopefully I will NEVER have to remove a toe tag...not sure I could do that much grossness!

8. I love to workout, only when I think I look good doing so. Wait. I never look good working out.....but I will soon if I keep it up!

9. I love to shop. Not sure if this is interesting, but I could shop all day, every day. My idea of shopping includes WINDOW shopping. I am a PRO at that!

10. My best friends in life include my father, mother, sister and brother. Without them I wouldnt survive this ever changing world. They are literally the best people that I know and would recommend any of their friendships with anyone that I know! :)

11. This actually should be my number one....but I am a follower of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! If God is for me, whooooooo on this planet could be against me! He is and will always be numero uno in my life! Thank you mom and dad for always opening His word to me and taking me to church every Sunday morning and evening! If you dont know Him, let me know and I will let you know all about Him!

12. I love to decorate! I get this from my mother and sister, who have the best decorations! Its like it comes natural to them....I admit, I try to copy them, but it never turns out exactly the way that THEY would do it, and I dont like it!

13. I am a total reality TV junkie! I watch.....Big Brother, Biggest Loser, American Idol, Bad Girls Club, Jersey Shore......the list keeps going....

14. I AM SOOOOO ADDICTED TO DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES! I am a personality clone of Gabby Solis (Eva Longoria).....and a little bit of Bree Hodge! (Marcia Cross) Can I get a WHAT WHAT!!!!

15. I have the best girlfriends in the world! None of them blog, but here is a shoutout to Brooke, Kaylynn, Katie, Leona, Cynda, Nicole, Lara and Anita! I love you all so much and thank you so much for your friendships!

Hope you are still reading this! I know that its long and I am terribly sorry!

ITS FALL!

2010-09-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

The pics below are of a few decorations that I have put out! Needless to say, I am excited that this time of year has come! OH how I have waited SO LONG! Not the greatest picture quality whatsoever, but they will do and you get the point! :)

This is an angled picture of my bar. You see this when you come into my home! I love it! My plug in is Cranberry Woods from Bath and Body Works and the smell is divine! I love the silver pumpkin that they have out this year! Also, the Acorn has a candle in it thats called Leaves. Its AMAZING! You MUST hurry and run to the nearest BBWKS and smell it! All of the signage comes from my favorite place....Hob Lob!

Dont you LOVE my plate? My sister bought me a set of 4 with different designs on them and I have been so anxious to use them! I have them spread out in different arrangements instead of all together. The skeleton is my favorite one and sits under my television...the cutie in the pics is my Natalie! I LOVE those two pics and refuse to replace them with more current ones! She is just so happy!

This is a side table in my living room! Dont you LOVE the Bistro table mat that my mom did for me? While I am not a coffee drinker, its my favorite! Here is another plate from that collection...its Frankenstein and I think he is adorable! I put those twine balls in my dome and loved it! Not sure what I was thinking when I did it, but I really like how bland the colors are and how it turned out! Of course, whats a table without a candy dish...filled with my fave...Mike & Ikes! :)

My fall tree!!! The pic does not do it justice, but I got all of the ornaments and decor...and the pre lit tree at Hob Lob! (thanks mom!) I love how it looks in my living room!

This is my kitchen table centerpiece. Not a masterpiece or anything grand, but its my FAVORITE Fall stuff in my house! did you notice the pik of the ghost, pumpkin and candy corn in my arrangement on the table? I love love love it!

Sorry about the TERRIBLE picture! I just wanted you to see my bowl of brassy looking pumpkins and gourds. There are some pinecones and leaves in the mix as well. Courtesy of WalMart! Have you been in there dept that sells the fall stuff? OH MY WORD! They have such cute things!

And lastly, there is the fourth plate in the collection and I love the black cat against the green! Just enough color to add to my bar arrangement! Natalie was mad because she didnt get to take the pics, so she snuck in there while I was snapping!
Well what do you think? You like? What would you change if you could? Anything that you would add? I would love to read some opinions and comments! Thanks so much! Hope yall have a wonderful week!

My days!

2010-09-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

My days lately have been filled with busy-ness. Seriously! I have so many things to do, but yet I find myself totally bored, and not motivated! Whats wrong with me! Tis the season to start my Christmas shopping, my Fall cleaning....hmmph.

Today I got to go birthday shopping for Natalies little friend Abby! Tomorrow we have a big day planned! It starts around noon when Natalie plays in her first Soccer game! I am so excited! The fields are within walking distance of my home (and no, I am driving because its on a main street and Natalie has to save her energy!) I am responsible for drinks and snacks for the little players and I am super excited! Her little team is so adorable, but I really dont think that they quite grasp the concept. Natalie just kicks the ball like there is no tomorrow and could care less at what the rules are....all she knows is that she is kicking that ball no matter who is around!
We then have a birthday party to go to.....bounce houses and slip in slides. This should be fun! Not too much to say tonight! Just wanted to pop in and say hello and wish everyone a wonderful weekend!

Summer...is it still here?

2010-09-14T19:06:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks!

Is it really still summer? With all of the stores carrying Fall and Halloween decorations, I find it hard to believe that its still in the 90's here! Its a total bummer. I love to go to Hobby Lobby and see all of the decorations that people are buying, kinda helps me get a clear understand of how peoples styles differ from my own. ( I am SOOO nosey like that! I could look at houses allllll day long just to see peoples decor)

Today it was pretty outside, still on the warm side, but I just went out there a few minutes ago and the heat is gone...there is a slight chill in the air, and I heard on the news that the temps dropped 13 degrees in less than an hour...could there be storms on the way? I think so! Yay!!

Natalie had soccer practice tonight and did much better this week than previous weeks. She played a little more and had a lot less attitude. A few weeks ago, she would cross her arms and plop right down in the middle of the field and wouldnt budge. I was thinking to myself that I really really dont want to be the parent of a kid that acts like that....I cringe at the thought! :) Her first game is this Saturday and I am really excited! Cross your fingers for me that she will play and not be "beastly!"

Another fun day at work lies ahead for me tomorrow. Not sure what we are going to have for dinner, but we grilled steaks, mashed potatoes and corn tonight and it was really good! Its probably going to be spaghetti night around here. Have you ever used the Newmans Own Sockarooni spaghetti sauce? Its soooo good! Nothing is as good as my mothers spaghetti, but I will take this if it means I dont have to cook a meal for hours!

Have a wonderful Weds everyone!

evening time!

2010-09-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

Good evening blogland!

Sorry about the banner at the top of my page. I seem to be having problems understand how to get my pictures to fit on there. Oh well, at least it captured SOMETHING that was relative to the season!

Its been a pretty nice day around here in Dallas! It was fairly on the warm side, and I am soooo hoping for dark dreary days...only because thats when it seems to be appropriate to play my Christmas music. Kind of hard to do that when its in the 90's and sunny outside!

I went to the gym this afternoon around 4. Natalie cut that time very short. She decided to play with the big metal glass doors and shut her finger in the hinge. She was pretty torn up about this as was I, but was doing everything I could to stay calm so she would calm down. Its a very heavy door and I know that it hurt. Her finger looked DISGUSTING. I almost lost my lunch when I saw it. She stopped crying and said that she wanted to go back in there and play, so.....10 minutes later after I really got into the elliptical trainer machine, I got the hand wave for me to come down and get her. Bless her heart. Her finger looked broken and she could not bend it at all. This evening its a different story though, and for that I am glad! So all is well with her little finger. (It happened to be her middle finger, so everytime she told someone about it...she gave them the bird! :) )

I guess I will hit the sack so I can go to work tomorrow! When I get a better camera (one that is not beat up by the beast) I will post LOTS more, with LOTS more pics. I have so much I want to share, but its hard because of the bad quality pics that my camera takes! I am even thinking of an awesome giveaway to do! So please be patient with me! Thank you so much for reading my blog and leaving me comments. I really love to get comments!

Fall is here!

2010-09-12T23:08:00.000-07:00

Good evening everyone!
Fall is here in my house! Its been so dreary lately here in Dallas, but I must say that I have officially broken out the Christmas music....along with the Fall decorations! I get so so excited this time of year, due to the fact that my entire life, this season is the most celebrated in my family. Something about going home for the holidays and smelling my dear mothers house. Its so cozy and warm, and just being there gives you a sincere feeling that all is right in the world. I only hope that I can have those traditions with my Natalie, and I definitely will!

Its been busy around here. I have been focusing on eating better. I am officially down 26 pounds and unfortunately, I cannot figure out for the life of me what my ticker password is or username. It wont let me update it so hopefully soon I will start a new one.

I am going to take pictures of my fall decor and post them probably at some point later on today. (its 1:00AM right now...) I spent the greater part of this evening cleaning my house, and its laundry day tomorrow. I am soooo going to workout as well, do some schoolwork, and possibly shred my mountain of ppwk that has been in there for months staring at me. Ugh. There is nothing worse than shredding paper for hours!

I recently joined a new church and couldnt be happier. Natalie loves it, and I have made so many new friends. I love the preacher and his wife, I love the sense of belonging that I feel, and I am so happy that I found a place where I am comfortable with the programs that are offered to Natalie, and the friends that she is making. She is learning songs as well as Bible verses each week, and it makes my heart so glad to hear her sing them and to talk about them the way that she does. Tonight we started our new Life group and I am so pleased with the girls that are in it with me! I am the oldest in the group, and 3 of the 4 girls have kids, and are getting divorced. Mind you I am never getting divorced because I couldnt imagine spending my life with anyone else but my DH, but I kinda felt that this was the group that I was needed in. The girls are very young, (20, 23, and 25) and have multiple children, and are already faced with divorce. What a shame. I just have not figured it out yet, but I really feel led to be with these girls. We clicked immediately, and you would have thought that we were all best friends. I LOVE MY CHURCH!!!

I serve a Risen King and there is such a peace about that! Thank you to my parents for teaching me the word of God and for leading such Godly lives. Happy 41st anniversary to the two best people on planet Earth. I love you both so so very much and could not have asked the Lord for two better parents. I am so so blessed.

Bad bad blogger!

2010-08-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

UGH! Just when I was going to make the commitment to start blogging faithfully, life sweeps me away in another direction and I often forget that I even have a blog to tend to. I love to blog, dont get me wrong....but I never seem to have anything worthy to write or talk about. So yes folks! this is yet another attempt at being faithful to something!

I have been very busy around here as of late. I signed Natalie up for soccer and we had her first practice last week. It was alot of fun watching the little kids run around trying to figure out that game. She LOVES Coach Kelly and Coach Dedra and there is even a girl on her team named Avery that she really likes as well! I will upload the photos of her first practice and post them soon!

We finally found a church home, and I am so excited to get in there and serve! I went to the New Member dinner tonight and signed the paper stating my commitment to the church, and we are officially members! I met so many new people tonight, and one of the pastors on staff introduced me to his wife, and we hit it off immedieately! I am going to be joining her on her ministry of "events coordinator". That is totally my forte! I love setting things up and decorating, as well as serving others by helping out doing whatever it is that I can! Natalie LOVES our new church as well and has already learned a few songs, some verses and has made quite a bundle of new friends! I just love the direction that the Lord is leading me in and cannot wait to find out what He has in store for us next! His blessings that He gives to me every day far surpass anything that I could do or obtain on my own! Praise the Lord!

Finally, I have been really doing well in the weight loss dept! I have not had any soda, sugar or fried foods in almost a month now! I have lost roughly 21 pounds so far and am excited to start working out tomorrow! My DH is on vacation this week so we are going to workout MTW and I have to work Tand F so at least we will get three days of great workouts in! I dont miss any of the things that I used to eat at all now, and I find that I CRAVE water! Who would have ever thought that?! I HATED water. Its boring. bland. yuck. Now I find that I need it more and more and it tastes better and better the colder that it is! GOOOO WATER!

I start my next real estate class tomorrow so I am ready to get the ball rolling on that as well. Lots of good things in my life are going on right now....Bring it on Satan! MY GOD can handle ANYTHING!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

This is the verse that Natalie has been studying this month in Sunday school and its so powerful! The Lord is ALWAYS with us no matter the situation we are in, discomfort we feel, or when the mountain seems to high for us to climb. How comforting!

WOW!

2010-08-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Wow! I cant believe that its almost been a month since I last posted! So much has gone on and I just have not had time to post anything at all!

I recently started paving the way for me to start taking Real Estate classes. That is well underway and has been taking up some of my time! I am really enjoying the class so far, and am learning some things that I never knew existed! Did you know, that according to TEXAS state law....if you do NOT have a will in place, and you have minor children, when you pass, or if both parents pass away, your children become the property of the state? THEY will decide where your children live and who raises them. That is so scary to me! So, I dont want just ANYONE having my Natalie! I am going to get started and make sure that I know where she is after I am gone! :)

I have been busy with working long hours a few days a week too! I recently started a new job with some friends of mine and its going really well! I love working there!

ANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Yes people! I am an official SCENTSY CONSULTANT!!!!!!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE visit my site and order! Its the most amazing stuff and I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! my site issss...................

https://audreyenloe.scentsy.us/Home

Seriously! You will LOVE the products!! I am trying to put a giveaway together for my blog...so stay tuned! Love to all!

My brother!

2010-07-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

I am participating in Kellys Show Us Your Life, single guys!

Meet.....PAUL!

SWEET, kind, FUNNY, loyal, LOVING, careful, FOCUSED, a shopping malls best friend, FLORIDA GATOR FAN, huggable, BROWN EYES, clean, WONDERFUL, adaptable, CAREFUL, beautiful, CHARMING, understanding, GOOD LISTENER, attentive, MUSIC LOVER, man, UNCLE, son, BEST FRIEND, calm, FUN, great smile,GENEROUS, giving, GENTLE, amazing......

The list could go on and on. Let me introduce you to my brother, Paul. He is 37 years old and yes ladies! he is available! We are in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Paul is the ultimate man to have! He is one of the last good guys that are left in this world, and is looking for someone to love and grow with. Ladies!

If you seriously would like to learn more, PLEASE leave me a comment!

I am so excited about this!

Lonely

2010-06-25T17:32:00.000-07:00

The lonlieness has finally set in I do believe. Earlier this week my absolute awesome sister and my just as equally awesome niece came to the big D for a visit. We had quite the fun time, if I say so myself...until the day that she had to leave.

Its been 20 years since I have had my sister to myself. I got to know her better in these past few days than I have over the past 20 years if this makes sense. My entire family is very close and it would be fit to say that we are all the best of friends. Its hard living across the states, but we always manage to stay in touch and see each other frequently. The day that she had to leave was so very hard. I HATE goodbyes more than anything on the planet. Give me roaches, dirty feet, I can handle those things...but goodbyes are just horrific and traumatizing to my entire being.

I havent left the house since they have been gone. (they left Weds). I got in my car for the first time this morning without my sister and niece and I must say that I cried. It was so lonely in there. Just me, by myself. Riding down the road in pure quiet with nothing but my thoughts to keep me entertained. I wondered what she is doing right now and if she misses me too...oh the places that our thoughts can go.

I will see her next weekend, but for some reason that doesnt satisfy my soul. My heart literally ACHES to live close to her, and my parents.
Sorry for the "down" post. Its really the only thing that has been on my mind the past few days. Its never really enough is it?
Other than the downer part....her visit was AWESOME I must say! We made trips to Sprinkles Cupcake shop, The Cupcakery, the Dallas World Aquarium, Hurricane Harbor, Abuelos, Fuel City Tacos, Central Market and even the Galleria mall for some ice skating! She must have gained 10 pounds coming here, but nonetheless, she looks fab and seems to never gain an ounce...I on the other hand......:)
I literally could vomit in my excitement to go "home". I cant wait and just really hope and pray that I will get to move back sooner, rather than later.

Here is Sophie and Natalie enjoying the cupcakes!

Here are Natalie and Sophie before Hurricane Harbor in matching outfits! We saw them and HAD to get them!

Sprinkles cupcakes! YUM! (This is in fact the actual sign at the Dallas location that we were at!)

Here I am holding our purchases! the top left was Sophies and it was the black and white flavor, the top right was Paulettes cupcake which was the chocolate coconut, the bottom left was Natalies cupcake and it was chocolate marshmallow, and mine was the bottom right....Carrot cake! It was truly the best cupcake that I have ever had! (Sorry Paul! I will bring you one next time...better yet, I will take you there!)

Thank you Paulette and Sophie, for making our time with you very special. We love and miss you so so much! cant wait to see you next weekend!

I want Plates!

2010-06-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

Oh dear! I have stumbled across some plates that I so desperately want!

Are these not the CUTEST plates ever??? I think I may possibly have a brand new addiction besides candles, shoes, purses, perfume, makeup....ahem. so. Add plates to that list! Are these in my future? Its possible! MoM!!!!!!! Add this to my Christmas list!!!!!

http://www.pfaltzgraff.com/Assorted-Halloween-Plates%2c-Set-of-4/5059622,default,pd.html

Do you have a favorite plate collection?

Playlist!

2010-06-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

Today I went and worked out for the second time this week, and I was dragging the ENTIRE time I was there. I didnt want to go and workout, but Natalie came and asked if she could go to "school" today and that she wanted to go right then. So, without further ado....I went. When I was right at the brink of quitting my walking session on the treadmill....METALLICA came on and boy was I ever ready to start running! (I didnt, but sure felt like I could!) The song I was listening to had the most awesome beats to it and just really charged me up! So...what I am asking everyone is whats on their playlist? My top 5 are....

1. Enter Sandman-Metallica
2. Bullet Proof-LaRoux
3. Womanizer-Britney Spears
4. Viva La Vida-Coldplay
5. Hey Ya-Black Eyed Peas

What do you think?!

summertime!

2010-06-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

I have been mentioning lately that we are going to have a busy summer here in my household. Tonight I was doing some planning as far as costs go so I would be able to see how much cash that I actually needed to save up for my adventures. Needless to say.....I about CROAKED when I saw the prices for one day admission to SeaWorld in San Antonio. 58.99/each person. That to me is the most bizarre cost! Is it just me that thinks this? I refuse to pay that, so now we have a change of plans. Next weekend my sister is coming to Dallas for a visit with my youngest niece Sophie and Natalie cant wait! I cant wait until they come either..I have a few things planned....
We are going to take the girls to Hurricane Harbor and to the Dallas World Aquarium, and I am insisting that we get to go to Fat Straws Bubble Tea House, Sprinkles cupcake shoppe as well as a trip to Jamba Juice. I think we may try to squeeze a trip to the Galleria Mall as well and possibly allow them to ice skate! I am not sure, but I want it to be relaxing for my seeeeester and I want for her to have the best time!
A week or so after that, we are making the 11 hour journey to Omaha for Fourth of July week. I smell a trip to the zoo while we are there. Then at the end of August, I decided that we are going to go to Houston and Galveston instead. I cant wait!
What are your summer plans?
PS-Sorry there are no pics lately, I cant seem to get my camera to work at all thanks to the Beast....and I dont have the money right now to go out and buy the one that I want, so hopefully I can save for that or request it for Christmas! :)

Insanity

2010-06-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Excuse me while I try to gain some sanity around here! The heat has been unbearable here for the past few days, sending my AC unit into a frenzy trying to cool this house down! Bless its heart!
Each afternoon around the same time (445PM) Natalie and I walk to the house behind me and just relax and have a good time. My dear friend and old boss moved in and she has 4 kids that Natalie adores! Its so nice for her to be able to play with the kids and get some fresh air at the same time. Leona and I sit on her porch with our water in hand and just talk. About everything and anything! I am so blessed to be able to have her nearby. It is therapeutic for me because I get a tiny little break from the beast I call Natalie! Lately, we have been going out later than 445 because of the heat. The mosquitoes this year have eaten us up and we are sick of it! Come on WINTER!
I cleaned my house today, attempted to go to the gym to workout but Shaun took my car to a funeral, and his truck didnt have enough gas to get me there and back....so its on full throttle tomorrow! I felt SO good the other day sweatin up a storm on the elliptical and treadmill! I even managed to push out three minutes on the stair climber!
I made Fiesta Chicken (yogurt, Panko bread crumbs, taco seasoning and cheese) and roasted veggies for dinner (broccoli, cauliflower, roasted garlic cloves, baby carrots, potatoes and onions with Tony chacheres seasoning and EVOO) and it was DELICIOUS! I love food! :)
Have a great night everyone! I think I am sane now...

weekend!

2010-06-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon!
Today I had to work, and I have to work again tomorrow so there is nothing new or exciting going on around here. I cant really complain since I only work two days a week to save my sanity and be around other adults!

I cannot wait for my sister to come to Texas! Even though she is going to be here for a few days, I just know that we are going to have the best time together! She is my very best friend...and so is my blogless brother...its nice to be able to call my siblings that. Best Friends!

Gosh, I have nothing to say....for once! I am sorry my blog isnt updated every day like most others. If I only had that bad to the bone camera that I want and my sister here full time to upload HER pics! You would have one amazing blog to read! :)

Enjoy the rest of the weekend! Its VERY hot here and just miserable to even go outside to take the trash out. Cant wait for SNOW!

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-06-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend for us was really no different than any other, except we had the inlaws over to cookout. Saturday I worked all day and it was really busy in the store because everyone wanted to buy buy buy! Why is it that they wait until the holiday weekend? Probably the sales that go on, but seriously, who would wait in those lines? the only line I would wait in for hours would be for candles! Gotta have them!
Monday I was very sick with the vomiting mess, so I had to call in to work, and basically sit around and do nothing but wait....for the next episode to hit. We grilled out Ribeye steaks (marinaded in spices, injected with a concoction that the hubs made up in his head, and sat in Seven Up for 8 hours, then spent another few hours in smoke) grilled seasoned corn on the cob, my father in laws artery clogging mashed potatoes, a huge salad with mushrooms, purple onion and avocados and I made my sisters AWESOME Oreo Freeze that was a total hit!
Now its Tuesday and my house is a mess......so off I go....

missing camera!

2010-05-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

I am just so mad! I cannot find the broken camera that still takes a somewhat okay picture. I really wanted to show you the finds today that I got from Hobby Lobby. I went this morning to find something to hang on the front door. I LOVE seasonal door hangings and typically have a variety to choose from. This year, I decided that I wanted a new patriotic one to hang, and I LOVE the one that I got! If I could just find that blessed camera....I could totally show you! I also found the CUTEST sheep figure with an American Flag draped over his back. Hob Lob has some awesome sales going on this weekend, so you need to go! There were plenty of other things that I really really wanted, but decided against getting them because of all the things that we are going to do this summer. I am desperately trying my hardest to pay cash for every trip that we go on! Doesnt look like its going to work out that way, but I am really trying!
I have to work on Memorial day, and tomorrow, but not terribly upset about it! I love busy days because it makes them fly by! Hope you have a wonderful weekend with family and friends! I know that I am going to have a good one!

hello

2010-05-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

Hello old thing I like to call blog! I have found it very hard to keep up with the blog and I am not sure why. I truly think its because I cant seem to figure out how to post pics the way that I want, and I just plain out am lazy!

Not alot of interesting things go on around my house, so trying to find something to say is hard enough as well. I wish, oh how I wish....that I could be a wonderful blogger like my sister...and constantly have awesome things to talk about and things to post. When I figure it out, then I may be more faithful with it. I think since my sister is planning on coming here, I am going to enlist her in a hands on tutorial on how to really work these things! She is amazing!

Any plans for the summer? We have quite a few things planned....on Memorial day we are grilling out with the family! I love a good steak and my father in laws mashed potatoes ROCK! LOADED with butter and they are soo good! We are also grilling corn on the cob and I think that I am going to either make Oreo Freeze or my moms AWESOME to die for pound cake!
Over the July 4th holiday we are going to my parents house, the zoo and hopefully to the most awesome Philly Cheesesteak place in Omaha called PepperJax! Its so yum!
At the end of August, we are going to head to SeaWorld in San Antonio as well as spend a couple days at Corpus Christi beach in South Texas. Then in September, my awesome brother graduates college, so my parents will be here, then its my CHRISTMAS vacation! Woot woot!!! I am already Christmas shopping, and listening to the music that comes along with it! I am so excited!
Anyhoooooo....tell me about your summer!

man!

2010-05-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry folks! Didnt realize it had been so long since I last posted! Did you really think that I could blog everyday and keep up with this faithfully? Just like me attempting Weight Watchers...I just dont stick with anything!

Not alot has been going on around here as of late! I am finally done with my classes and managed to pass all four of them that I was taking this semester! I am taking the Summer off so I can spend time with my family and do fun things. We have alot planned this Summer already and am so excited about it. In June, my sister is supposed to come here (not sure if that will happen but I am keeping my fingers crossed! ) then there is the Scrapbook convention that I am totally excited about! Hopefully over July 4th week we will get to go to Nebraska to my moms house and then on to Pampa to my DH familys houses to visit. In late August we are planning a trip to SeaWorld in San Antonio as well as Corpus Christi beach so Natalie can swim...finally! She bugs us ALL the time to go, so we are going to suprise her!
Thats it for right now!

busy busy!

2010-04-27T16:37:00.001-07:00

Good evening!
Its been a busy past couple of days around here! this past Sunday I weighed in and officially lost 1.2 pounds! Just a small number, but hey! I am out of the 250's officially and that makes me ooooooober stoked! Its been probably 6 months since I have been in the 240's so my next goal is to get in the 230's. So the scales said... 249.4! Go me! go me! My mom is joining in with me too as far as eating healthier and working out...makes that nice to have someone to do it with even though she is not doing Weight Watchers.
we went on Sunday to the Allen outlet mall. It was amazing as usual! Spent money we didnt have, but since the DH is getting transferred to a new store, I thought that it would be nice to get him some new pants, shirts and shoes...and of course...whats a shopping trip without getting ME new shoes?! Oh. I am in HEAVEN! I love my new shoes! Natalie lost my camera somewhere in the house so we have been on the hunt ever since the Keno party! I will definitely be finding it and uploading some pics soon!
I worked the past two days and am just so exhausted! I have to be up at 415 on the mornings that I work so its really hard when you are used to being up late and sleeping in!
DH is grilling pork chops and corn on the cob so that is dinner and we are watching American Idol and Biggest Loser tonight! So excited!
Only a couple more weeks of school and I am taking a break this summer from school. i really want to do fun things with Natalie and take a few mini trips without having to worry about assignments due!
Off to the tube now! Who is your favorite idol? I am still voting for Siobhan! She is my favorite!!
Ta Ta!

a giveaway!

2010-04-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks!
tomorrow is weigh in day for me....officially........wish me luck because I think I totally blew it today! Back on total track tomorrow!

Over at Threadheads Unite, there is an AWESOME giveaway going on! Please make your way there and enter!

See yall tomorrow evening! We are headed out shopping tomorrow for my hubs some new stuff to start at his new store May 8th!

good evening!

2010-04-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

Good evening blogland!
Its late right now and all of my Keno girlys went home! I did end up with a cute apothecary jar filled with fruit slices and some Scentsy bars! I am pretty excited! I will post pics when I get them loaded of our fun night!

My sister and mom started a new blog called Four Seasons Bistro and I must say that its going to be fantastic! Enjoy that cup of joe or tea and get a few recipes! If its coming from them, then you can rest assure that the recipes are tried and true...and will be delicious! I hopefully will be allowed to add a few of my own recipes from time to time, should they allow it! My husband is the grillmaster and maybe I can share a few tips from him as well!
I think that I am going to enjoy my weekend and do nothing! I had Subway for lunch, and only had a very small peice of cake and a little bit of shrimp fried rice....so I dont really think that I totally blew it...I have another small confession...I did in fact weigh today just for curiosity sake and was down 1.2 more pounds, making my weight 249.4! I am excited about that and am really going to try double hard this week to workout for five days as opposed to three and really burn baby burn!
Have a great weekend, and hopefully I will load the pics from tonight, sometime tomorrow!

sorry...

2010-04-22T22:28:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody, (if your still reading after my hiatus!)
I havent had much of late to blog about but thought that I would try and make a commitment now to keep up once and for all with this! I love to blog, its just hard to find things to talk about that are interesting! Though my posts may be mostly pictureless, I will try to post as much as I can that is relevant!
Two Sundays ago, i decided that it was high time to start something around the likes of watching what I eat and working out faithfully. I embarked once again on a Weight Watchers journey, and am doing pretty well on it so far. I havent given up yet, and its probably due to the first week success.
I started out by stepping on the scales. I am 5'1 I believe and weighed in this time at 256.6, the most that I have ever weighed in my entire life. I am so ashamed that I let myself get this way and vow to NEVER be this big again. I did the entire week faithfully counting all of my points and working out...and staying away from all of the snacking, mid day coke runs, and sneaky bits of candy. I went in this past Sunday morning, shed all of my clothes and stepped on the scales to see how I did. I officially have lost 6 pounds the first week! I was so so stoked!!!! I couldnt believe it! So now I officially weigh 250.6.......
I cant hardly wait until Sunday to weigh in again. I am a CHRONIC weigher every day......and I have taken my moms advice, and am only going to weigh in once a week. Its been terribly hard, as the scale to me is like twinkies to a fat girl....I have to do it!
Wish me luck! I am going to keep up with this and possibly make it yet another weight loss journey blog, mixed with life circumstances, Natalie, and the rest of the family unit!
Tomorrow my day is full! I have a test to take, Keno gifts to buy, a dessert and fruit tray to make.........because its KENO NIGHT at my house! My girls are coming over for a late night keno jam complete with Natalie! Hopefully I will snap some good pics and share with yall our night!

Easter

2010-04-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! He is Risen! What a wonderful day today is!

I just realized that its been 10 days since I last posted something! So sorry! Things have been quite hectic around here lately. Been working alot, and doing quite a bit of schoolwork since I took on an extra class this mid-mester.
Last night I babysat for 4 kids, plus Natalie! One of my best friends and former boss, Leona, lives directly behind me and hasnt been out with her husband in so long. I volunteered to babysit yesterday afternoon after I got off of work and told them to go out and enjoy theirselves. They jumped on the opportunity and left on the motorcycle and didnt come home until 430 this morning! (I approved of that, we had a big slumber party in her living room floor) She hugged me and gae me the biggest thank you ever! Her kids are so well behaved, so I totally didnt mind, and Natalie had a blast!
We did puzzles, made dinner, had a giant easter egg hunt, and did moon sand art! Needless to say, it was a success and Leona told me this afternoon that her kids said that I was the best! THAT made me feel good!
After leaving their house I came home and Natalie and I went to bed, then woke up at 930! Natalie had a nice suprise from the Easter Bunny, and was so excited to get her sidewalk chalk, My Little Pony figure, Clifford DVD, a tiny but of candy, stickers, and a snowglobe. I think she is falling deeply in love with snowglobes just like her cousin Sassy! (Sophie)
I then proceeded to make Easter dinner.....Ham with a made from scratch basting glaze, slow cooker green beans, corn, Patti LaBelles home made macaroni and cheese (delicious!), Rhodes dinner rolls, deviled eggs, made from scratch lemon pound cake and lime jello salad, as well as Sweet Tea! I had my brother here and my inlaws all came over and we had the best time! It was worth all the hard work because the dinner was YUM-O!
Back to the daily grind tomorrow! I have just a little bit of laundry, two History tests and some discussion board postings for class that I have to do! Leftovers for dinner and voila! you have my day tomorrow!
I am going to upload pictures and post them hopefully at some point tomorrow! Have a wonderful night!
HE IS RISEN! He HAS RISEN INDEED!!!!

Books!

2010-03-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

For Christmas 2008 my brother bought me the entire Karen Kingsbury Redemption series books. These books are a set of 5, and its a long read. It took me longer to read all five books because of my being busy with Natalie, school, work, maintaining a household etc.

Tonight, while simmering in my HOT bath...I finally finished the last book in the series and I must say that I cried, laughed and am very sad that the series is over. Do you ever read a series of books and feel like you have bonded with or personally know the characters? Its such a strange feeling because I found myself getting very nervous about the turn of events in the books, and worried for the family in the books, and excited when they were talking about a wedding. It was almost like I was totally experiencing those moments with that family! I really feel like I lost someone now! Its terrible! You MUST read these books! Karen Kingsbury is a phenomenal author and she writes Christian Fiction. you MUST read this series! Get to know the Baxter family like I did and I promise you that you wont be disappointed! Please let me know if you are reading them, or have already read them!

Spaaaring Baaareak

2010-03-21T16:44:00.001-07:00

Is it really over? Really? I have SO enjoyed being off of school for the week, and tomorrow starts the second half of the semester. Three classes are alot for me, but not too terribly bad. Needless to say, I will be glad when May 15th rolls around and I get to start yet another class!
We have been keeping it pretty low key around here this week. The highlight of my week was yesterday when a few friends of mine and I went out for the day to the Peddler Show. Its the same place where they hold the scrapbook convention, so it wasnt anything new to me...but it was BLISS! They have the AWESOMEST things there! Its like a total Etsy store on Steroids with TONS of different crafty booths, candles, jewelry, bags, signs, blingy shoes and clothes, custom childrens clothes...you name it! I had a total blast and cant wait until August to do it again!
Other than that, I have been sick, Natalie has been kinda sick, my brother was sick earlier in the week, and now Shaun has a hurt foot/ankle. Not sure what we are going to do with ourselves!
Thank you so much for reading my blog! It means alot to me the few of you that are out there! Have a wonderful week! I am settling in for early bedtime because I have to work tomorrow! I am going to catch my FAVORITE show though tonight....DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES!! :)

Siobhan Magnus

2010-03-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Oh my stinking goat cheese gosh! Seri0usly! If you are not watching this season of American Idol (MOM! PAULETTE! ) You MUST watch it when this girl Siobhan sings! Last night they were doing the Rolling Stones songs, and she chose Paint it Black. She is quirky, funny, female Adam Lambertish and MY FAVORITE! That girl has a set of pipes and just has done a fantastic job so far on the show! I despise with a passion that song Wicked Games by Chris Isaak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhLFfPRqywk&feature=PlayList&p=77B2E8DE5D754364&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15 After she sang it...ohhhhh. its one of my favorites!!!!! She just put so much drama on it and did a wonderful job with it! Do you think I like her at all?! LOL!
Today, I woke up with a nasty sore throat, a very messy kitchen, and toys everywhere. (insert big sigh here) I just cant stand it anymore. I HATE a messy house (ahem mom. stop thinking about all the times that I was messy and made a mess at your house...I know, I know....payback) So today I am going to spend most of my time cleaning. Love it. Its therapy. did you hear me? THERAPY. I need it after dealing with a 3 year old sweet beast. I am also going to see if my friend Brooke maybe wants to do lunch today. (Scratch that, just got my response, she is busy :( ) Brooke and I have just become wonderful friends, through a high school friend and I now just cannot imagine NOT having her in my life. Its one of those friendships that saddens you to think that you didnt find each other sooner and wonder what you missed out on all these years! Do you have friends like that?

Mail calling!

2010-03-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon blogland!

I am so excited for today.... the mail lady came and knocked on my door! What was it you ask?! It was none other than the FABULOUS gift that I won over at Kims blog! I am so excited about this because I am so into plates! I love them in all shapes and sizes, from everywhere and anywhere! I will take them!

Thank you so much Kim for the plate! I absolutely love love love it!!!!

Dolly Babe

2010-03-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

****due to me NOT knowing how to delete or blur out things on photos. I wanted to take this photo off due to my privacy and protection....it was a picture of Natalie standing there crying! thanks for understanding! *******

Happy March everyone!

Last night Natalie came home from her Memas and Papas house and decided that she was going to demand me around and make me play in her room. We played house, dollys, legos, read books, and somewhat tried to clean......

Well. While we were playing with her Dollys, here is the following conversation....

Natalie: Mommy? Can you play with this baby and I will play with this one?

Me: Sure! What do you want to play?

Natalie: here! This is your baby and this is mine

Me (in a high pitched voice): Hi baby! What is your name? My name is April!

Natalie (in an even higher pitched voice): Umm, hi April! My name is, umm mommy? what is this babys name?

Me: I dont know, she is your doll, make up a cute little name! How about Junie. Yes. Junie! I like that name!

Natalie: JUNIE??? Why Junie? Okay. My name is Junie, April. Do you want to come pet my dog?

Me: Sure Junie! I would love to! What do you think about my new necklace that I am wearing? Isnt it pretty?

Natalie: No. That is an UGLY necklace April. Take it off.

Natalie: I dont like your name April, can you change it?

Me: Junie, that is not a nice thing to tell someone! Friends dont say those things to each other! Junie? Will you hold my hand?

Natalie: No way April. I dont want to hold your hand. and I dont wanna like your necklace. Mommy? Does my baby have to like your babys ugly necklace?

Me: ummmm. I am done playing now. You are being rude! :)

Good grief! She is sooooo loving towards all of her dollys, why when I play with her she turns to the playground bully?

hmmmph. Surely the above picture MUST have been what April felt like!

Bragging sister...

2010-02-27T17:08:00.000-08:00

This is a much older picture of my sister Paulette and my dad, but it happens to be one of my favorites! The changes that have taken place over time are my dad now has a go-tee and my sister has really dark hair in a different style. The pot rack still hangs in the exact place that you see it...and the walls are still the same color! :)
I just wanted to brag on my sister too like my mom did! She has been invited to be featured in TWO of the Just Cross-Stitch magazine issues! I am in no way a cross stitcher, but she creates the most AWESOME designs EVER and I love love love to look at it! Go and take a look at her blog and click around...your bound to find some awesome awesome stuff!!! Read it too...she is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!
I love you Paulette! (and you too mom!)

Giveaway from Threadheads Unite!

2010-02-26T16:49:00.000-08:00

I am so going to post this FABULOUS giveaway at http://threadheadsunite.blogspot.com/

Its the cutest primitive plate ever! Its just so me...so. Go and look at it and promise me that if you win...you will mail it to me! I LOVE PLATES!! Woot woot!!! Wish me luck!

WORK WORK WORK!

2010-02-24T18:19:00.000-08:00

Oh, man! Whats a basic stay at home mom to do when I am facing a 4 day workweek? I work two days a week, and hardly ever back to back and now I am offically working 4 days in a row starting tomorrow! I have not done this in 4 years and to tell you the truth, I am kinda nervous about it! There is light after those four days though....with me doing that, it turns out to be 14 days of vacation after that! Woo hoo! GO ME!
Sitting here right now watching American Idol. My sister in law has a friend (Tim Urban) who made it to the top 12 guys. While not doing all that well tonight on the show, I do hope that he goes on pretty far. He was homeschooled and went to a coop one day a week with my sister in law. He has 9 brothers and sisters and my sister in law even goes to their house often for bible study! Its awesome to see someone on there thats that close to home!
Who is your favorite so far? I dont really have one this year yet! I am going to bed now! Have a busy week ahead! :)

little bit of this....little bit of that....

2010-02-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

Nothing eventful going on around here as of late. Woke up this morning to another snowfall! I am so ready for it to be Spring! This past Sunday, I went to a friends house for a get together (okay! it was another Scentsy party!) and we were wearing shorts and sandals! 70 degrees outside of pure bliss! Ugh.
My days this week have been filled with laundry, schoolwork, and just plain odds and ends. Do you like my new page background? I LOVE it! Nothing more to share as of right now. Hopefully I can come up with something worth reading in the next day or two!
Happy Wednesday everyone!

My snow angel!

2010-02-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

Look at what we woke up to this morning! I just cant believe that Texas is seeing this much snow! I had my fill of it over the holiday break in Omaha, and I thought for sure that I wouldnt be seeing anymore.......hmmph. I did have a blast though waking up and seeing Natalies face when she saw it! Immediately she went and made me get her dressed so we could go outside and play! She had snow much fun throwing snowball after snowball at ME! Dont worry tho! I got her back!

Happy snow day all! Stay warm!

Sniffy Scrapper

2010-02-10T15:08:00.001-08:00

Lets have a looksee shall we? I am a Candle Queen. Yes. I. Am. There is no other addiction like it. A couple Saturdays ago, I had the pleasure of hosting my Scentsy party. I got the most AMAZING scents EVER! If you look really close, you will be able to see some of the ones that I bought! If you would like to order some for yourself, visit my good friend Brooke's website and order from her catalog online and it will direct ship to your house. I am not kidding...order some, because no one is getting their hands on mine! This is one of the 3 plug ins that I got...in this particular warmer...I am burning Poinsettia Pine. It truly is delicious! You must smell. Just scratch the computer screen and sniff. Smells good ehh?
Another thing I did today was scrap a couple of pages! I love to scrap and am looking forward to the scrapbook convention that is coming in June this year. My sister in law, neice and myself took an adventure there for the day, and we did NOT leave empty handed. I wasnt sure if all of our goodies were going to fit in my car. This year I will be taking my truck to this event! Hopefully my sweet sister will be able to make it...she will fall in LOVE there! Do you like the pages that I created today? If not, at least you dont have to look at them again...so go and create your own! :)

Enjoy your evening! I am off for dinner...well...to my kitchen...got some baked lemon/garlic/rosemary tilapia fillets brewing and not sure what I am having with them yet! American Idol...TONIGHT!

bubbly blabber and a couple pics!

2010-02-07T17:17:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I was so happy when the hubs gave me the go ahead to get new furniture. I have been wanting it so bad for a long time. If anyone out there has kids (and I am sure that the majority of you do!) you all know just how abused your furniture gets after a period of time and exposure to a toddler. At one time, I had a gorgeous, comfy large couch that graced our presence whenever we got off of work after a long day. It housed our hineys for a long time before you know who came along and started the terrorist attacks against it. Poor thing. Its seen so many behinds from the various friends that have sat upon it..taken care of my looonnng naps...its had lots of use....from milk spills, crayon marks, ink pen stripes, You know who's drool. You name it, it was on there! So...after many debates on the WHY we should get new comfy couches...he said YES! Here is the loveseat that we bought, and I dont know where the pic of the couch went, but I am sure its somewhere......I have yet to allow you know who to even remotely BREATHE on the couches...so far so good!

Here is you know who now....She was getting ready to go to a princess birthday party, and I still claim that she is the cutest princess around! I just love her!

I have one last thing to say before I end this post....
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COLTS!!!

Happy Birthday Bro!!!

2010-02-05T14:17:00.001-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL! I love love love you so so much and hope you have the best day ever!!!! I graced him with the presence of Cheesecake Factory Carrot Cake...so hopefully he has had his fill of sweet sweet cake! I sure know that I have!

Beastly.....

2010-02-04T09:24:00.001-08:00

so....these pictures are of the beast in action. Not really sure WHY she was crying, probably because I wanted to take pics of her and she was scared of the camera for whatever reason! I love the little outfit that she has on, and I just wanted a couple of cute pictures! Whats wrong with that?
We are not up to doing anything today at all! Ever have loads of things to do and just no motivation to do any of them because you get sucked into the computer? Thats me! There are loads of laundry to be done, bathrooms to be cleaned and sterilized, floors to be vacuumed, tables to be dusted, dishes to be unloaded/reloaded into the dishwasher, mountains of papers that are ready to be shredded, trash to be taken out...the list goes on and on...and by golly! I am already tired of the day!
I am trying a new recipe for dinner tonight, so I am really excited about that! Its called Tender Beef over Noodles. It sounds from the title like it could be stroganoff, but its more like a sweet BBQ stew meat over egg noodles. It looks really good and I got the recipe from Taste Of Home!
Guess I will get up and get started with my day! Its rainy, cloudy and cold out so thats even more motivation to take a nap instead of clean...or do schoolwork...or go to the grocery store...hmmm. I think I will take a nap first!

A Whole Lotta Nothing!

2010-02-02T21:43:00.001-08:00

Where is Spring at? I am so ready for it! Any ideas how to make it come quicker?

I have so much planned this year! I cannot wait to get my new deck built when the weather warms up. I really want to try my hand at keeping hanging baskets alive and well this year! I would also love to plant an herb garden, paint my master bedroom, get my closet cleaned out, finish my scrapbook and start a new one, visit the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, go to the scrapbook convention in June and then back to Omaha for Jusy 4th! That is just a HINT of things that I want to do...and I wont bore you with the rest!

Lots of school to do, will update again real soon! Missed all of you!

Another day!

2010-01-17T21:53:00.000-08:00

And so it ends...another Sunday gone! Where did my time go to today? I got one cabinet cleaned out...ta da! It would be my CANDLES! I had to reorganize them and stack them to perfection so they could be easily reached in my time of need! What are your favorite candle scents? I have a secret passion for the Bath and Body Works Slatkin and Co. 3 Wick candle...LEAVES! Its the BEST EVER! If you can get your hands on one, I strongly urge you to! You WONT be disappointed!

Church was most excellent today! I love the singing and the worship time that I can have with other believers. Its so comforting to me to hear the music of the traditional hymns that I grew up with. I love the old faves like At The Cross, Blessed Redeemer, Just As I Am, and I Surrender All. My all time favorite hymn would have to be "How Great Thou Art". Such a comforting song if you as me!

Natalie sure is testing my patience these days. Another switch has gone off in that bright head of hers. She has graduated to double beast. She yells at me, and has a mean little bite. She is laughing right now at me with that little devilish sound...grrr, WHAT am I going to do?

Class starts Tuesday, so I am going to be spending my Monday getting prepared for it. Hope you all have a wonderful MLK holiday!

Diaper duty

2010-01-14T14:50:00.000-08:00

This little stinker still refuses to potty train 100%! She will not go #2 in the potty at all, and nothing that I say or try to bribe her with works at all! We told her that we would give her a gumball if she would go, because gumballs are her favorite. Her answer? "Your the best mommy! I am so proud of you, so I am gonna get a gumball anyway" Now...after that statement, HOW can I possibly say no?! Ahhh. Glad DH was home today from work so HE could be on diaper duty!

It was a slow day at work, but nonetheless, we had fun taunting the customers that came in. Its 53 degrees, rainy and sorta chilly! They were in nothing short of snowsuits! Whats with these Texas people anyway? Dont they know that the north is being hit with negative temps? Cant help but laugh!

Its Taco night around here! Thats a night that I totally look forward to every week because it is the EASIEST thing in the world to cook! Then again....any night that my DH cooks is the best!

We got our new furniture delivered to us this afternoon! It looks fantastic and is ohhhhh sooooo comfy! I am going to take pics as soon as I have my living room put together juuuuuuust the way that I want it! I cant wait to share it with you all! What is your favorite piece of furniture and why? Mine HAS to be my lingerie chest that was my sister Paulette's forever ago. Its very old, but so so pretty. It houses my socks, undies and my DH's stuff too. No lingerie for me! Straight sweat pants and ugly "hole-ey" tees! Poor hubs!

Hope you all are having a fabulous Thursday! I know that I am! I am so ready for January to be over though...tax time AND all of my busyness will turn back into the lazy bored days that I LOVE!

Happy soon to be Friday!
PS- I am really learning how to link, so hopefully this post came out right...otherwise I am a lost cause!

Haiti

2010-01-13T19:00:00.000-08:00

Wow. As I watch the news and log onto the computer, I just cant help but see the pictures of the recently devastated Haiti. The emotion that must be sweeping their little nation at this time and all of the people that they have yet to uncover or hear from. It saddens me desperately and makes me so so thankful to Almighty God that I know where my family is tonight, and I know that they are all safe and sound.
I was reading Kellys blog over at Kellys Korner and she has the most amazing posts of just about any blogger that I have ever read. ( I have not figured out how to link in my posts yet, but I will soon, I promise!) She is a woman of God and blesses me so much each day when I read what she has to say. She had a link up where you could donate to Compassion. I believe that its a missionary website and one of Compassions employees was visiting Haiti at the time of the earthquake and has yet to be heard from. His name is Dan and Kelly just recently went to El Salvador on a missions trip with him. Please keep him in your prayers tonight if you will. He has a wife and two young boys at home. The hotel that he was staying at has some survivors and they are still pulling people out of the ruins.
I just donated a little bit of money to Compassion. They have set up a disaster relief fund already and I felt led to give. If you would too, (and ANY money at this point will help, no matter how small it is!) here is the link....
https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/disasterrelief.htm?referer=105120SocialSponsorshipBlitz

Now just copy and paste it in your browser as I have done in this post. Please remember to keep those people in your prayers tonight! God Bless!

Ramblings....

2010-01-12T19:40:00.000-08:00

Good evening all!
I start this post with a "caught in action" picture...Natalie thought it would be funny to sneak up on my dad and throw a snowball at him while he wasnt looking...little did she know that a massive pile was going to be launched back at her....my poor girl! She loved every minute of it! Thanks to my mom, she snapped this photo just in time!

Today was a VERY non-productive day for me. I did a few loads of laundry which have yet to be folded and put away, I did manage to organize my pot and pan cabinet and vacuum my bedroom. I am glad that they are done, but I feel so un-accomplished! I do not like to feel like I have so much to do, no motivation to do it, and I really do have the time! ALLLLL DAY is spent keeping up after Natalie and being on Facebook...a total time waster. I think from now on I am just going to do my best to stay away from the computer so much, and start doing things around here that I really want to "accomplish"! I have so much scrapbooking stuff that I need and want to do, there are drawers, cabinets and closets that need to be organized and dealt with, there are games I want to play with Natalie and lots of books to read to her as well. There is also reading my Bible faithfully and daily, which I have neglected to do, due to me always wanting to play games on the computer and complaining that I am bored. Its time to do something about it!
There is so much to do in this life and I waste it in front of a computer screen! I have a few classes that I am taking...online...so I am going to be spending enough time at the computer already, so I think that I just might give up my Myspace, Facebook etc.... I think that it will be good for me and really get me on the road to productivity!
This year I would love to have an herb garden! I was reading in a magazine on how to do it, and I think that Natalie would enjoy seeing it grow each day, and getting to water it! Plus, as many seasonings as I like in my food all at once, it will be nice to have fresh things in there!
Tomorrow we are off from work so I think we are going to go and workout at the gym together, and then head out to look at couches. We need a new one bad!
Have a good Weds everyone!

Is Spring here?

2010-01-12T10:32:00.001-08:00

What a bee-utiful day it is in sunny Red Oak Texas! I woke up this morning thinking that it was going to be terribly cold outside, only to find pure enjoyment that it was bright, sunny and a tad warm! I think I am in love with Spring! I went outside, sat on my porch and just enjoyed the birds chirping away. Is that a sign of age? I am only thirty after all and dont find the little things like that so entertaining. TODAY is a different story! Not sure why, but I just found myself lost in the moment on my porch and thanked the Lord for a wonderful day! Hope its sunny where you are...and a tad warm!

Wonderful Sunday

2010-01-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

Good evening blogheads!

Today was a wonderful day! I spent the first half of the morning in church praising and worshipping to wonderful songs and hearing an awesome sermon from the best preacher around! I just love going to church and I absolutely LOVE getting to drop Natalie off to a wonderful Sunday School class. She loves it to so that is a double bonus!
Headed to the mall this afternoon, which is another favorite thing of mine to do, but only if my brother tags along. Its so much fun watching him look at clothes, he is truly a shopaholic just like me! No wonder we are best friends!
I loaded up my Ipod today with new tunes to workout to, so that is my goal tomorrow! Just to eat great, and workout hard! First day starting once again on a healthier lifestyle!
Hope you have an awesome week! I know that I am going to have one no matter what comes my way! This is the day the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!

Winter Nips!

2010-01-09T19:55:00.000-08:00

Whew!! brrrr!! Someone bring me a HOT chocolate from Starbucks please! It has just been so cold out ever since we got back from our holidays in Nebraska. I think that we just might have brought it to Texas! There were a few days that I had to get up EXTRA early and go to work in the dark, cold, FAAAAREEEEZZING temps! Thats just not like Texas!
I have so much stuff on my to do list this year! I want to get all of my kitchen cabinets finally cleaned out and organized, I have GOT to get into Natalies room and get her toys sorted out that she does not play with anymore, and take them to the thrift shop, (we have a local one here called Pennies From Heaven that I am going to donate to this year, I believe that they sell things for literal pennies to the patrons who really truly need help), I also am hosting a Keno night with my friends next Friday! SO excited about that! We are going to have food, prizes, and tons of fun! and hosting another party for the Scentsy brand...OMG! TO DIE FOR!!!!! They are little wax blocks that are amazing, and the warmers are these AWESOME night lights and they smell up a room! I will post pics when I get them! You will HAVE to see for yourself! I also am wanting to pull and sort all of scrapbook stuff out and really dive into it.
I dont have much more to say right now, I have to go pickup little boss from her memas house, so ta ta for now! Leave me comments! :)

Happy Birthday Sweet Sister!

2010-01-05T08:31:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Paulette! Another year, another birthday, but I dont know of another person who deserves a bigger, better celebration than my sweet seeeeeeester. She is the most giving, loving, sweetest woman on Earth and I just wanted everyone to know that NO one has a better sister on the planet than I do! Other than my mother, she is my very best friend and wouldnt trade her for anything or anyone else! I love love love you Paulette! May 2010 be YOUR year, and everything that you hope, desire and wish to come true! Happy Birthday!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

Wow! Sorry its been so long since I last posted! Just like 2009, time is already passing right before my eyes! I had a wonderful holiday season with my family once again, filled with food, fun, laughter, presents and snow! It was a good trip overall and am excited to start out 2010 with a bang. This year I have decided that I was not going to make any new years resolutions that are the norm. Every year I say that I am going to lose weight (which I seem to gain each year instead of lose) pay my bills off (which seem to grow as well due to the awesome sales that go on!) and be a better wife and mother. (how much better can I possibly get!?!? :) )
This year I am going to workout more, spend less, and read my Bible more. What are your New Years goals/resolutions? Happy New Year!

bad!

2009-12-07T16:31:00.001-08:00

Bad bad Audrey!! I cant believe I didnt listen to my mother for once, and in turn, it totally bites me in the hineY!!! A few days ago, my computer just kept acting really strange, locking up, shutting down randomly, starting up programs randomly etc etc. I told my DH about it and he said that he was just going to restore my system and take all programs and everything out. Basically wipe it totally clean. He did that. The computer works GREAT!! Fast!! Nice!!! Like a normal, new computer....except ALL ALL ALL OF MY PICS ARE GONE GONE GONE!!!! Whats a girl to do now?!?!!?!?!? Too late to take the advice of my mother to back all of my pics up on a website....grrrr! Happy Holidays anyway!!! :)

Texas State Fair

2009-11-23T09:43:00.000-08:00

Each October, the Texas State Fair makes its appearance here in Dallas! Thousands of people from all over the state and the United States come and gather here to shop, sample, see the museums and partake in the many rides, activities, agriculture classes and cooking shows. Oprah even made a visit this year, along with many other artists that performed at the Chevy Mainstage. We decided that this was the year that we are going to start taking Natalie. I LOVE the fair atmosphere, the smell of Fletchers Corn Dogs (jalapeno being my favorite!), the buzz of the rides, lots of game noises and kids laughing and squealing! Below you can enjoy the pics from this years fair!

Deep Fried Latte was one of the new fried foods to try this year. I dont like coffee so I didnt partake in tasting it, but the lines were long throughout the day.
What is the state fair of Texas without being greeted by Big Tex first? Everyone stops to hear his voice every 30 seconds saying "welcome to the Texas State Fair! Taste the food and have fun!"

Natalie wanted to play the balloon dart throwing game so bad and the worker there just loved her! He was so suprised that she could throw a dart so far and so hard and actually hit every single balloon that she threw a dart at. He even gave her two prizes!

At the Chevy Test drive venue, Natalie found a friend to drive with her the Cadillac Escalade for 7 minutes! They crashed and burned several times, but she had a BLAST! She wanted to do this over and over!

this is the Texas Star Ferris Wheel (It says Texas Star on the other side of it, but we were far from the other side!) Natalie wanted to go on this so bad, but there was NO WAY anyone or any amount of money was getting me on this! I WONT WONT WONT! that thing has been around for 50+ years and I dont trust it! LOL!

Andddddd this years BIG HYPE item...FRIED BUTTER!!!! These lines went mostly down the sides of the kiosk so you cant see the line that well, but let me tell you, it was LOOOONG! NASTY! there is no way that I am trying that either!

and...Natalie and I matching. I just wanted to add something of her and I . We were headed out to Central Market in this pic and I just love it!

Hopefully next year, some of yall can come to the fair too and experience what we did. There are many more pics to share, but for now, this should do! Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Little Hands

2009-11-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

There is nothing I love more than my Natalies sweet hands. They are so tiny and soft, and well? Just perfect!!! Lately she has been sleeping in her bed, and last night was a little different. She would NOT go to sleep and just kept saying that she was scared. "mawwwwmeyyyy! I scared, I so scared Mawwmey, can I PLEAAASE come sleep with you?" Well. That melted me so I made us a pallet on the floor. She got her pillow, blanket, milk and her new stuffed puppy Peanuts and started to drift off peacefully. Until.....about 20 minutes later, she said in the softest little voice..."mawwwwmeyy? Will you hold my hand?" and that was the end of that!! How could one resist?!?!?

2009-11-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

Good Saturday! Early this morning I had to be at work and the hubs had a last minute meeting to attend, so Little Queen Natalie got to go to her Memas house and play for a bit. I left for work around 540 this morning and just couldnt believe all the traffic! I am pleased to say that the holidays have officially begun! Everyone is on the road now heading to their destination for the holidays, and I am stuck here. At home. No Nebraska for me. There is no where that I would rather be than with my parents and family during the holidays. Thank goodness Christmas
is right around the corner. I am done with my shopping.....are you?
Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving week! woo hooooo!!

terrible....threes?

2009-11-19T21:42:00.000-08:00

There are many times throughout my day that I have gritted my teeth so hard that I felt as if they would break. Anyone ever feel that way? I had the most perfect angel for a daughter until the day that she turned three. I think with her age turning, so did her personality. Dont get me wrong, she is still good as gold, but sometimes.....well. Its a grin and bear it moment. No one ever said parenting was easy. I thought it was a piece of cake at first because Natalie was and I mean wasssss the perfect child! Things have drastically changed, and I am sad to say for the worst. I totally get that she is gaining more and more independence and testing the waters allllllll the time, but come on! How long does this last?!
My pet peeve is when people take it personally. I cant stand it when someone wants to fight back with her and they are grown adults. Why cant they see that she is only three and grin and bear it like I have to? I dont like it when she gets treated back the way that she is doing the treating (KWIM?) After all......its got to be a stage....right? RIGHT????
Anywhoooooo, on a lighter note, I TOTALLY bought new candles today and anyone that knows me, knows that I am a candle QUEEN! I HAVE to have them ALLLLL the time! I went to Yankee and bought....Be Thankful, Mulling Spices, Harvest and Fall Festival. I must say that I am going to have one GREAT smelling house! I am Audrey. and I have an addiction.

just livin!

2009-11-18T20:58:00.000-08:00

Yes folks! Just livin! I have been driving myself nuts lately trying to get everything ready and together for the upcoming season...wait. Not upcoming! Its here!
Every year I pack myself and Natalie up and we head to Nebraska for the week. Its always a blast with shopping, baking, family time, movies, buffet night with the Stews, presents, decorations and riding around looking at all of the Christmas lights with my family....and heading to DQ for a blizzard afterwards! I love this season every year and try to do my kickoff in July. I start to gather all of my Christmas lists and get with it! I am happy to say that with a few more gifts, I am totally done. Who wants to wrap for me?
Natalie and I have been busy going on playdates, painting rooms, playing with Legos and her bitty baby April. Its been pretty hectic around here all the while trying to wrap up my class that I am taking at the college, cooking, cleaning, and shopping.
I have spent so much money lately that I think I am officially spent. Yes. Me. Spent. I am going to start the Dave Ramseys Financial Peace University starting this month. If you have never heard of it, I totally encourage you to check it out. I have a few friends that have done it and are so much better off and more blessed and more of a blessing to others than they ever thought they could be. My ultimate goal is to be in the state of giving. Being able to give freely myself, my time and my money. I would love to sponsor children in third world countries, give to the missionaries out there that are struggling, hospitals dedicated to saving children who have been stricken with a terminal disease, homeless shelters and to needy families. I want Natalie to have the spirit of giving and not recieving, and what better way to do that than to be a complete example of what the Lord can work out in others lives, starting with her parents.

There have been several prayer needs lately that have been brought to my attention. I have a friend of mine whose husband lost his job and there is a twinge of worry there even though she is working a FT job that pays well. (make more spend more) I also have another friend who has been unemployed for 8 months now and has been desperately seeking every single opportunity that comes her way, only to find that there is no job offer at the end of the day. I have another friend of a friend who just lost their little boy to a disease, he was 3 months old. Please pray for these if you will. Oh, and I have one more request...I have a dear friend of mine who is working hard, and her husband works very hard and they have 4 children. They are struggling pretty bad and even though they both have jobs, its still not enough.

Thank you so much for reading this long post! Hope everyone has a wonderful day! Until next time!

weekend

2009-10-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

I know I know...I am so bad about posting pictures. I really need to get better at it! We are getting ready to dress Natalie up in her monkey costume and take her to a old town square to practice her trick or treating skills! Its going to be a blast and I cant wait! I PROMISE I will take pics and post later on this evening........
We have not done too much today. Went and did a little shopping with some coupons that I had from Victorias Secret and Lane Bryant. I didnt pay a dime for anything so gotta love that! Natalie LOVES perfumes so in VS I got her a little set of the body sprays for Christmas...and it was marked 10$ and I had a free 10$ to spend in there, so that worked out perfectly! In Lane Bryant today I had a free 30$ to spend, so I got an awesome black cardigan and a pretty lacy pink cami to go under it...I am going to be looking FAB! LOL! Ta ta for now! On to the CANDY!

Long time~

2009-10-28T15:54:00.000-07:00

Good grief! I am sorry that its been so terribly long since I have posted anything! We have been busy around here!
We made our way to the Texas State Fair where we had a wonderful time as a little family. Natalie REALLY enjoyed all of the rides that were out there, she also had a good time petting Elsie the cow in the Borden area of the fair. The auto show was there and of course, we fell in love. I smell new cars in the near future for us...sometime in 2010. We couldnt decide all the way what we really liked, but my eyes of course are fixed on the new Chevy Camaro, and Shaun of course HAS to have a HUGE truck. So! We tried the Chicken Fried Bacon because we just could not bring ourselves to try the fried butter, which the line was a mile long for. I think I would just feel nasty trying it! Natalie enjoyed her first Fletchers Corn Dog, and her first roller coaster as well. She had a blast and we did too!
We repainted her room in a Valspar color called "Scented Valentine". Its a very pale pink and looks gorgeous on the wall! I dont have any pics at the moment to post, because we are still waiting on my brother to come over and hang them perfectly. (I SWEAR he needs to be an interior decorator the way that he has OCD about things being straight, all in a line, clean, and spaced perfectly) Ohhhhh. He is perfect for that job!
We also took on the task of painting the guest bedroom in "Dismal Dune". Its a very light neutral and it looks great! We bought some wood blinds to go in there in white, and when that is complete it will look FAB!! We also added two new light fixtures that look great and really brighten up the space.
I have also been busy getting things ready for Natalies birthday this Sunday. I just cant believe that she is going to be three! Where did the time go? She is so smart, she sings, dances, tells jokes and can count to eighteen. She also knows all of her ABC's and can operate a cell phone, and trying to master the computer when we are not looking!
I have not been going to the gym like I should be. I feel so terrible and can definitely tell that my energy levels have dipped tremendously. I HAVE to get back in there, NO excuses!
I also have been busy selling Avon. I am enjoying it more and more as I get the hang of everything. I have really good friends that love to buy, so that is even better.
This weekend is Halloween and Natalie is going to be a very busy girl! On Friday we are headed to Midlothian to their annual town square halloween where the kids go from store to store to trick or treat. They are doing it a day early and at 4 in the afternoon, so that is a bonus. Natalie is going to be a monkey this year after a long battle with trying to find a giraffe costume. Poor thing wanted to be that so bad, but we looked EVERYWHERE and could NOT find one ANYWHERE! On Saturday we are headed to a few Fall Festivals then Trick or treating in some neighborhoods that we go to each year. On Sunday she will be having a good time as well. We are headed to the Galleria to the American Girl store where she will get the Bitty Baby that she has been wanting, then we will do lunch, pick her Hello Kitty cake up and starting the festivities. I will post pics!
Wow! Thats it for now! I will try to update alot more frequently now! Have a wonderful week!

Natalie

2009-10-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would share a few pictures taken recently of Natalie! I am playing around with the picture uploading this morning. My mom finally told me how to do it right! Natalie and I were getting ready to head somewhere in this picture and needless to say, she was not happy about something!

here she is going down the stairs to the car. She loves her Hello Kitty Boots!
She is modeling her blue bracelet here....she love those things!

been rough!

2009-09-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Good evening!
As I sit here and write this, all is quiet around here. Natalie and Shaun are sleeping and after I post this, I am going to read my Bible and hit the sack myself. I have been really busy today taking my very first test in my college class. (Human Anat and Physiology) Needless to say, I failed it and am just going to study harder and try harder the next time. I have been questioning myself lately on if this is the right field for me. It truly is, but the work to get there is very tough. I am not even guarateed admittance into the Nursing schools here, I have a 1 in 300 shot at it. Chances are slim ehhh?? I think I have decided that I am going to tough it out and try my very best, and maybe pray about it. Sounds good to me!
I have been working out still and eating good! I am so happy to say that I have lost a few pounds, guarantee you its from not eating out. That is quite a feat for me, beings that I am a restaurant/fast food junkie!
The TEXAS STATE FAIR has opened and i am so so so excited!! My little family is going on Tuesday and I just absolutely cannot wait! A Fletchers Corny Dog sounds great to me, but I might skip it this year because I am going to try my best not to indulge myself out there. I sure dont want to end up feeling sick from the heavy food that I have NOT been eating this week!
Ta ta for now! I am going to go read, bed, breakfast, workout, lunch, Bath and Body Works, Childrens Place, clean, study, dinner.....and go to bed again. I have to work Sunday and Monday...:( Thank you Lord for my job! Have a very very awesome weekend!!
PS-Please keep one of my family members in your prayers, I cant give details but its health related, so please please pray! Thank you so much! Be blessed and be a blessing this weekend!

come on Christmas!

2009-09-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am so over obsessed lately with thoughts of Christmas! I have done nothing but listen to Christmas music, plan out my holiday travel schedule, shop the Christmas aisles that are already set up at some stores, put out my Christmasy smelling candles and almost have all of my decorations in the designated spot ready to be displayed! I just WISH that everyone could experience the season like my family does. Just for ONE year! You will so totally be like me and want it to be here all year long!
Its so cool ouside and cloudy! All I want to do is bake and listen to Christmas music! Yay! Its just around the corner and as fast as this year has gone, I sure hope that the Fall/Winter season lasts a really long time!! Merry Christmassssss!

working out....ALL the kinks!

2009-09-22T16:28:00.000-07:00

So many times in life I have tried to "diet" only to find myself a few (or many!) pounds heavier over the years. From Weight Watchers to South Beach, to no fast food or to no soda...they all seem to fail. Wait, I fail, not the diet itself! If I could just keep telling myself that one little bit, I might just find myself a few pounds lighter! Many many many conversations and grumblings later, I find myself once again trying to workout faithfully and not eat fast food. This past week Shaun and I decided to pay in full a membership to the local recreation center. We have been two days in a row and I think I like it! I like everything when I try it at first, but this time, (and I say that lightly with the oh so dreading fear feeling) is going to be different. Not only am I going to try my best to be faithful, I have a goal in mind....so the journey begins.
I will never forget when we went to Six Flags just a few short weeks ago, and I literally could not ride any of the rides with Natalie. Everyone was buckled in and ready to go except me. I asked the ride attendant if there was an extender on the belt because I just couldnt get it to snap. He sadly said no there wasnt and I would not be able to ride. Thank goodness my dear brother was nearby, and gladly rode it with her. If that is not motivation enough for me to lose this weight, then I guess I am going to be fat the rest of my life. I was so embarassed and I just cant go on living this life of obesity due to the nature of my being and my love of travel and amusement parks. It has held me back too long now, and with Busch Gardens around the corner I WILL I WILL I WILL LOSE THIS WEIGHT! Woot woot! Go meeee!

a quick update!

2009-09-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

This past week I was so thrilled to have my parents come down for a visit. There is nothing more joyful than knowing the ones that you love that live so far away, are coming to visit! My mother and I did not do the usual heavy shopping that we normally embark upon whenever we are together. Instead, we hung around the house and did hardly anything except visit! We did go to a few fun places....like Hobby Lobby where I found a couple of cute things! I will post what I bought in a later blog entry.

A wooden shelf was given to me a few weeks ago and my plans were to spraypaint it, put a dowel in it and hang my gorgeous quilt on the shelf...well, with the help of my mom and dad, we did it! (well, THEY did anyway) The picture is my living room wall now, and I dont have a before picture because I am not used to little completed projects, or posting about them....trying new things, one thing at a time people....I will eventually get project etiquette lessons. So, enjoy your Monday! Its pouring rain here and has been for 3 days straight now.......

Hello!

2009-09-05T19:57:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the lack of postings lately, not that I have a big following anyway! I have been so busy with schoolwork, and regular life these days, I dont really have that much to post about. My mom is coming tomorrow from Omaha and I am so excited! We are going to have a blast together because we always do! I sure do miss living around her so I can just pop in all the time and go shopping all the time with her. she is my best shopping partner!

Natalie is a beast and thats all there is to it! I am so loving this age. Her new thing now is when I tell her no, she retorts right back "mommy! You cant say that to me, dont say no because I say yes" grrrrrrrrrrr! What am I going to do with that child!!

3 girls

2009-08-20T14:11:00.001-07:00

So the past three nights I have babysat for two girls plus my own! Now I know what its like to have three kids....and I wont be diving into that adventure....ever. I can deal with two more than likely, but not three! Too many problems! LOL! I am so tired today, but tomorrow I am babysitting free...for this week! Its totally like another job! Natalie has not yet learned how to share, but I have a feeling that she is going to get the hang of it really well! Lets hope for the best!
I have been very busy with school this week too. I am getting a head start on my class and its going well so far, just very time consuming! Cant wait until this one is done with!

thoughts

2009-08-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

Frequently my days are filled with thoughts from my childhood. I truly had one of the best childhoods out of anyone that I know, and there are not even a handful of things that I would ever change about it. In my thoughts, there was only one thing that popped in my mind today as far as something that I would change.

I was doing my normal cleaning and was unloading the dishwasher. It occured to me that my drinking glasses were still wet when I was putting them away. Oh the blasted handtowel that my mother always made me use to dry them off. THAT was the WORST!!! I HATED HATED drying them off and having to unload the dishwasher! I still to this day hate that chore more than any other thing. I would rather clean toilets and litterboxes all day, then to have to dry the dishes and put them away. So. Out of total spite to my mother today....MY CUPS ARE IN MY CABINET WET!!!!!!!!!!!! ILY mom!

Breanna

2009-08-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

On Monday, my precious niece Breanna will be off to college for the first time. She is attending the University of Nebraska and I am so proud of her. I just cant believe how fast the time has flown. Long gone are the days of pushing her in the donut down her driveway in the snow, the birthday parties with her friends, the shopping trips where I had to drive because she was too young...oh. I am going to miss those days, but cant wait to create lots of new memories with her, and her new found adult freedom. Breanna is the first of three nieces that I have and holds a very special place in my heart. I loved her saying "Is your mama a llama" and just everything about her! Congratulations Breanna and may the beginning of this new journey that you are about to embark upon bring you nothing but the Lords guidance, and happy happy times! I love love love you so very much! Show me your poopy lip!

babysitting....kid watching

2009-08-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

So....tonight I decided that I was going to help a friend of mine a couple times a week and watch her two daughters so she can go to work. Wow. I cant imagine having more than one kid...when Natalie is 18 and out of the house, maybe I will decide to embark on yet another kid! LOL!

This friend of mine is a VERY STRUGGLING mother, trying to do school and work as a waitress to make ends meet. She is the sweetest person and I love her to death. I decided to lend my services at no cost to her to help her out and just to give her the peace of mind of where her kids are and that she doesnt have to worry that her children are taken care of.

Jazmine and Jozie are their names and they are the sweetest kids! They are 9 and 6 and Natalie LOVES them!!!! She has had so much fun tonight getting to have her "friends" over and stay for awhile. We made home-made personal sized pizzas, and bought them "Dippin Dots" cotton candy flavored ice cream. Then we played some more and they all wanted to take a bath in my gargantuan bathtub, so they had a blast in there, and now its tube time! They are all cozied up on the couch enjoying each others company, and there hasnt hardly been a dent in my own routine...I love these girls and glad that Natalie actually has someone to come over and play with her...and they are gems themselves for allowing natalie to BOSS them around!! WHOS THE BOSSSS!

college or BUST!

2009-08-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

I am tellin ya, this class is going to be fun, and quite the challenge for me. Thank the Lord that I have a mother and a mother in law who are MT's! I am taking Human Anatomy and Physiology this semester and its already a challenge! One that I am so willing to take! I am going to have fun because in the meantime I am going to really get to test those two on THEIR knowledge! Woo hoooo!!
Nothing much has been going on around here! We made a trip today to Hobby Lobby and I found a really neat wall decoration on clearance that I absolutely love! I am going to have to take a pic of it and post it. I think yall will like it too. They are having a really good clearance sale right now, so go check it out! We also went to Toys R Us and got Natalie a new toy. She has been good lately and thanks to a special someone, she got her a keyboard with a stand! (I had to pitch some in, but the extra cash helped! )
Hope everyone has a good evening! I am going to be busy tomorrow cleaning as usual and there is a spraypaint project that I am dying to get to! I will post more on that later as well! Happy Thursday everyone!

this girl.....

2009-08-10T14:12:00.002-07:00

is my favorite! This is what I get to look at each and every day! Isnt she a sight to see? Natalie is so happy all the time and I cant thank the Lord enough for the blessing of THIS angel He gave to me. Yes, she frustrates me to noooo end and makes me want to get in the fetal position and scream sometimes, but overall, I would have another kid just like her if I could be oh so lucky. SO full of life and joy and is rarely in a bad mood. If she is, she is sooo easily enticed to a good mood just by taking her outside, or giving her a popsicle. I LOOOOVE my nee nee! I wonder if I could get her in a bobble head for my dashboard?

my even BIGGER girl!

2009-08-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

I am so happy this sunny morning! Natalie came to me and said that she needed to go potty...go figure I thought to myself. She always says that and goes and sits there and laughs, plays and giggles...basically pretending. this time was surely different! She officially went potty in the big toilet! I started to bounce up and down profusely clapping my hands in delight...and needless to say, she almost fell in from laughing at me so hard. We went and got her big girl panties out of the drawer and that sweet girl said..."You are a great bouncer mommy!" Where does she get this stuff?!

Another happy note, I made an A in my English class...that is officially posted as a 4.0 in the college forum! So excited! Things are bright and sunny here! Hope all is bright in your life right now!

My big girl......

2009-08-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

has finally graduated to a big girl bed! After many nights of Natalie desperately crying to sleep with us and not in her crib I convinced the DH yesterday to make her crib into a toddler bed. When I was at work yesterday and came home, Natalie was bouncing with excitement for me to come have a look! I went into her room and there it was! A toddler bed that he converted from her crib! I was so excited for her because I have been telling Natalie that her daddy was going to make her one. She has waited and waited.....
Bedtime came and I prodded her in there and she went to sleep! I was so excited about this. She laid there (while I HAD to stay in there of course) and talked for a few minutes, asked for some milk and then she was just an angel! No problems whatsoever! A few hours later though....she managed to wiggle her way in our bed once again, but it didnt bother me at all. I am going to put her in her bed again tonight and hopefully by doing this each night she will stay in there longer and longer.
My sister over at plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com finally got her webcam hooked up!!!!! I am so excited!!!!! Love to all! I think we are heading out to the Fort Worth Stockyards today to loook around!

checking in

2009-08-04T15:47:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those days where you could talk for hours on end but write nothing? That is my problem with this blog. There is so much that I want to say and to talk about but I seriously get a case of writers block when I sit to type.
Nothing out of the ordinary has been going on around here. Just very hot weather, lots of rain, and a lawn that desperately needs tending to. I have been busy cooped up inside getting my college English class wrapped up. I will find out in a few days what my final grade is, and I am worried. I dont think I have any reason to be, but just the usual worry that I am not going to make the grade that I expected. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Well, its off to the tube now...Big Brother 11, Hells Kitchen and More to Love is on tonight so I will be tuned in!

fall anyone?

2009-07-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

I just love the stuff that comes out for the Fall season! One more big holiday to go (halloween) and we are set for the smoked turkey legs, pumpkins, cool weather, fireplaces burning...wait...I am in Texas, what am I thinking? those goodies I am fantasizing about are in Nebraska......where I should be! I love how my mother decorates for fall and the smells that come along with it! All the neat decor she has, the stores are all decked out in rich colors and smells! Woo hooooo!!
Just thought I would go off on a Fall tangent there for a minute!

Giveaway!

2009-07-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

Good Sunday afternoon blogland!
Just wanted to say that my sister Paulette over at Plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com is having a giveaway!! Rush over there now and post her a comment today and enter for your chance to win! You will LOOOOOOOOVE her blog! She is so fantastically funny! Love you Paulette!
Aud

Remember my coloring, dad?

2009-07-12T18:29:00.000-07:00

Often times throughout the day I hear Natalie constantly saying "you wanna color with me mommy?" and even more often I ask HER if she wants to color! I dont know what it is really that draws me to coloring so much, I think its always been one of my very favorite things to do.
When I was a little girl, I distinctly remember my mom working and my father being home with me when I got home from school. I cant remember exactly when, but I was very young and I always had crayons and coloring books/paper readily available to use. We lived on base and I remember this table and metal barstool chair that I used to sit in and color away the afternoon. I remember my father in the basement with me and I was coloring a picture and was so happy about it that I went and showed my dad. Beings the wonderful dad he is..it was then that I truly learned how to color! I used to bare really hard and go allllllll different directions with the black crayon. This particular day, my dad asked me " Why did you color like that?" I wasnt sure what he was talking about, and then it all made sense after he told me how to REALLY make it look good....dont bare so hard, and go one direction with the crayon, either side to side or up and down, not both. I tried it....and have been a true crayon connosiur (spelling?) ever since! LOL! Thanks dad, for teaching me how to color correctly...now if Natalie would just catch on....nothing I cant stand more than all of her scribbles all different directions and the BARE HARDness that she uses! LOL! I am sure that my dad does not remember this, but I sure do! Now......where is that darn crayon box that Natalie hid from me? I SWEAR she took it. GIVE ME THAT CRAYON!!!!!!!!! (PS-if anyone cares...Target carries a 120 crayon box that is to DIE for!! )

busy busy

2009-07-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been so busy I have not had the time to write anything. I hope that every one of you had a wonderful holiday weekend with food, family and fireworks! I had to work all weekend, but did manage to get some brisket, potato salad, beans and banana pudding in my system. This year we took Natalie to the annual fireworks show in our town and it was just as good as it has always been. Natalie LOVED it! she kept pointing at the sky and naming all the colors that she saw, it was a fun night to be had. My brother even came along with me and it was so good having him there to celebrate with.
I started my English class today and have been busy working on that. I am going to like this one...I have that feeling! A friend of mine from church is taking it along with me, so we are happily helping each other with it.
gotta run! dryer just went off! have a great day!

battling motivation

2009-07-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

HELLLLLLLLLOOOOOO (In my BEST Mrs. Doubtfire voice)

Happy July 1st everybody! I cannot believe that we are already half-way done with the year. Its amazing how time flies faster and faster each year that I grow older. I am such in a funk and wish I could get motivated to get up and MOVE! yesterday the hubs and I went and worked out at the gym really really hard! My phalanges are the only thing that is not hurting at this point and I am sooooo not motivated to get up and do a thing around my pigsty of a house! Anyone want to come over and help me? There is so much to do and so little time to do it all! I have an upcoming garage sale that I am trying to prepare for, and school starts for me on Monday! I cant wait to get this class started and done with! (not because I dont like the class, just because its one class closer to getting into Nursing school!)
Okay, gonna go and try to battle this motivation and get up and MOVE IT!!!! Love to all!

Been Awhile!

2009-06-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon blogland!
I guess its about that time for me to post again. I have made a vow so many times to keep up with this blog, but time just gets away from me so quickly, in my world full of shopping, being a mom, calling my mom all the time....:) and school work....all the while cooking, cleaning, and maintainting my house!
Shaun and I have been on the hunt for a new, nice, affordable home. We have gone and seen a few and nothing with that ahhhhhh factor so far. I want to move....so bad I would trade EATING at this point....and thats a BIG want for me! Everyone knows I LOVE FOOD!! :)
So, I am not sure what we are waiting for. Its a huge step, and a part of me is very scared to move because just as soon as I do, my hubs will get a transfer to Omaha approved and then I will have to deal with that. Secretly I LOATHE moving....away. out of TX. out of Dallas......North....corn country....get it? Nebraska? That is my want, and I think I am going to hold out until next summer to do anything of the sort. By then, my hubs will be able to either transfer or get promoted.....Hopefully he gets promoted, but after he tries a few times, and if it doesnt happen.....we are outta this hole! (meaning Texas).
So! I got some exciting news this morning! I got approved for Financial Aid through the college, and that is a total first for me. I guess they made new regulations and I fall under those because they have told me for the past few years that my DH made too much money and I didnt qualify. Out of the blue this morning, they sent me and email and said I got some! I am so excited!!!!!! Beyond excited!!!!!!! Those books get expensive. Its really bad when your book is 200 more dollars than the actual class.
Well, until next time, I have a garage sale to get ready for, school starts again on Monday so I need to make sure that everything else is taken care of......ta ta for now!!

Fathers Day

2009-06-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Fathers Day everybody! I know its been quite a few days since I have posted. I have been so terribly busy with school work and doing lots of stuff with Natalie and now I am trying to get back into the swing of things.

A couple weeks ago I got to spend some time with my dad. Ohhh. No one really and truly in my own mind can compare to him. He is the BEST father in the entire world and I am so so very blessed that the Lord gave him to me. What a wonderful life I have and would not trade it with anyone, at anytime, anywhere. If you have your father living close to you, be very thankful that you do. Back in 2001, I made a life changing decision that moved me 689 miles away from my parents, and believe it or not, its a decision that I have to live with the rest of my life. I dont regret making the decision because now I have a husband and a daughter that are my world, but its so hard to not wish and dream that I would be back in my parents full time lives. Ugh! I wish I could move!! NOWWW! I miss you dad and mom, and I love love love love love yall both so very very much. Thank you for EVERYTHING dad, you are amazing and continue to amaze me more and more each day. I love love love love you.

BACK!

2009-06-09T17:55:00.000-07:00

Whew! What a week I have had! It was a blast I must say, but I also must add that I am loving my routine again. My vacation started with a trip to my folks house in Omaha, Nebraska. My neice Breanna graduated high school and it was a GREAT time with friends and family. Natalie stayed home with her dad, so it was a nice getaway for once. My mom and I did some shopping, went to an open house at my sisters house for my neice, graduation and then mosied around town here and there and had a nice BBQ complete with smoked ribs, potato salad and beans. It was YUM-O!

Breanna and I flew back Monday and we had a week of amusement and shopping! We headed down to a waterpark a couple hours away called Schlitterbahn, it was nice, but too big and really a waste of time considering the lines and the size of the park...we had a blast anyway! She is a HOOT to be with and our time was filled with girl talk, shopping and laughing! We bought LOTS of neat stuff and really had a great time!

I am now going to be very busy the next couple months. I signed up for two summer classes at the college to get them out of the way and will be a sophmore at the end of the year. I am pretty excited about this! I am taking Texas Government and English this summer and a History, Nutrition and a Dosage class in the Fall. So! I am going to be busy and not blogging much, but I am still around!

Natalie has taken a turn for the worse in that little attitude of hers! She is NUTS! I hope that this passes very quickly! Ta ta for now! hope everyone has a wonderful week! I work for the next couple days so I will be MIA!

Ready or NOT!.....

2009-05-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

Here I comeeeeeee! T-minus 24 Hours and I will be on my way to DFW Airport! I am flying the friendly skies tomorrow and I am so excited! I have a fun filled week ahead and am starting to slightly feel better. My head is still stopped up and I am coughing, but I am on the downward hill of this! Praise the Lord!
I still have alot to do before I leave. I need to finish up the laundry, pay some bills, run to the grocery store, check the mail, and shower, pack and fill my car up with gas so my brother and hubs will have something in case something were to happen! So...have a wonderful week everyone and when I get back, I will post some pictures!! Happpppy trails!

sick

2009-05-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

Good evening blogland!
Just checking in, I have been really sick these past couple days with asthmatic bronchitis. I dont really feel like typing any, so I wont be back to blog for a couple weeks. I am leaving Thursday for my neices graduation, and will be back Monday afternoon, but she is flying back with me...and we have an awesome trip planned! Have a safe and happy few weeks!!!! Bon Voyage!

One mans JUNK.....

2009-05-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

See this black beauty? The other day I was driving down a street in my neighborhood. Lo and behold? My eyes spotted it....out by the curb awaiting the trash man. I scoped the area out, found the dude that lived there that was throwing it away and he said its a good chair, but he has no room for it and if I wanted it, I was welcome to it! I snatched that up quicker than I snatch a pair of shoes or a candle up and I was on my way home......My plans are going to include glossy spraypaint, a pot and some flowers! Its going to sit on my porch and be a perch for my potted plant! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! It looks great already on my porch so I am pretty excited about getting it done. I might even take a metallic silver paint and scroll designs on the upper back of it...what do you think? Any ideas for my chair?!

been a few days!

2009-05-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

Good evening bloggers!
I have been busy the past few days working, cleaning, signing up for classes.....
I love to be busy because as some of you know..I tend to be a "bored" person. I cant seem to get motivated to really do much beings that I am so addicted to sitting here on the computer! I have decided to take quite a few more breaks during the day away from the computer and spend the "break" time cleaning, or playing with Natalie. I still have a sewing machine that I need to pull out and learn on, and lots of scrapbooking things to do, as well as tons of books to read. So. With that said, its my new mission to stay off the computer alot more than I have been and get busy. I am sick and tired of being bored!
On another note, WalMart has this new flavor of Tyson brand pork tenderloin. Its Pomegranite Basil marinaded and we grilled it tonight for dinner and it was FAB!!! You must try it! Have a great week everyone! I work tomorrow and the rest of the week will be busy for me getting ready for my trip next week to Nebraska! Cant wait for that!!!

going....going...in 13 days!!!

2009-05-14T13:05:00.001-07:00

heavy heart

2009-05-12T17:50:00.001-07:00

It is with great sadness that I have to bear the news that Kayleigh, 11 months old, went home to be with our Lord yesterday. Her long battle has ended and now she is in the presence of God. I am so saddened by this. If you want to see pics or follow the blog its.....

http://kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/

Rest in Peace sweet Kayleigh. Cant wait to get to meet you one day!

2009-05-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Beautiful.charming.loyal.wonderful.loving.concerned.compassionate.brave.bestfriend.blessed.
nurturing.glorious.witty.funny.helpful.adored.caring.prayerwarrior.....................

this list could go on for HOURS describing a special someone in my life. This someone is the greatest person on the planet, other than her other half. this person sacrifices so many things for others. She is on her knees constantly in prayer over her childrens and grandchildrens lives. This person is so giving and loving. this person...yes. Is MY MOTHER. Truly the strongest, greatest person other than my father alive today. I am so thankful that I have her in my life and the Lord truly knew what He was doing when He gave her to me.

I love you mom, more and more each day. thank you!

My new soon to be addiction!

2009-05-06T10:08:00.001-07:00

Like what you see here? So I did day one, level one and I must say that this is my new favorite workout DVD! I had to MAKE myself do this, but now that I am done with the first 20 minutes, I feel great, actually sweated, and feel like I did something good! This DVD was sold out in 3 stores that I went to and finally I went to Best Buy and they had one left! I was so glad that I got my hands on it. It was only 12.99 and Target wanted 15.98 for it! I say...BARGAIN! LOL! What is your favorite workout DVD that you can actually say that helped you?? I would love to hear about it!

My finished Living room

2009-05-03T19:11:00.001-07:00

Finally! Here is the pics of my newly painted living room. Last weekend my hubs and I decided to go ahead and attempt to redo our living room on our own. We are NOT, and I repeat NOT home-improvement savvy. Needless to say, I thought that it turned out much better than I anticipated! I love walking through my door now to nice clean walls and new trim. There is nothing hanging on my walls at the moment, but I sure am going to post pics when I get my stuff hung exactly the way that I want it. I used to have lots of Americana things hanging up and now I just cant stand that stuff anymore.

The above picture is in my front door to the left. I am standing at my far wall facing the front of my house. Never mind the couch please! Natalie has spilled so much stuff on that poor thing and its soon going going going....gone! Its suede that cannot be cleaned at all. If I attempt to even get water on it, it stains. So. We definitely got it LONG before Natalie was ever thought of. If you are in the market for a couch, dont get a material like this at all! I strongly advise against it!

Excuse the vacuum cleaner! I didnt realize that it was in the pic! This is my view from the kitchen. I love my living room now more than I ever have. See that wall where those two decorative trims are lined? There used to be a chair rail all along that wall and it was hideous. We tore it totally out, painted over it, patched it up, and now you would never know that there was anything there! It makes the room look alot bigger this way and I am totally satisfied! Got any home projects your working on? I would love to see them!

wicked jealousy!

2009-04-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

So today I call to see what my dear mother is doing...and what else? My mother, sister Paulette and neice Breanna are going to the Quilted Moose! I want to be there so bad to go! I am jealous! If its not already bad enough, my sweet sweet mother let my sweet sweet neice work with her oh so precious BERNINA! That is nutso. I couldnt even lift the cover off of it to sneak a peek at it, and here she is letting Breanna work with it! What gives?!?! If you go to http://littlebit-mkwaak.blogspot.com/ , you can see them clearly rubbing it in my face with all of those adorable pictures! Anypoo....
Its been rainy and dark here most of the week. Perfect weather to sit around the house and do nothing! I have taken a few naps, sat on the internet and somehow managed to go and workout yesterday. I really desperately need to workout today, so when the hubs gets home from his workout, I think I will go there and do my little routine!
Anyone worried about the swine flu? I cant seem to get my mind off of it and its highly annoying. Everywhere I turn there are more and more cases of it and frankly, I am tired of this already and its just begun. I have been washing my hands and basically staying in quarantine....I wonder if the mall is considered a confined space?!?!?! hmmph.