Weekend Recap

Well, what a great 4-day weekend. I packed A WHOLE LOT into four days, and I still wish it didn't end!! It all started Wednesday, when we (Surprise!) got to leave work at 11! I didn't know what to do with myself!! So, I went home and got E and we headed to Red Robin for burgers and an amazing Gingerbread Shake! Then, we decided that it was too pretty to spend the day inside so we went shopping and just enjoyed riding around with the sunroof open. We ended the day at Bass Pro Shop and then went home to make homemade pizza! Thursday, we got up bright and early and drove about 2 hours south for his family's Thanksgiving. We ate until we couldn't eat anymore and then both got in the car on our separate ways...me to Huntsville and him to the ducks in Arkansas. Friday...my mom and I got up at 3:30 to continue our Black Friday tradition of craziness! We had so much fun though! I think we ended up spending less than we saved!! [This was the view of the back of the car. Note: My mom drives a Tahoe and there was no more room for stuff unless we held it in our laps!] Then, it was time to go home and raise my blood pressure by watching the Iron Bowl!! Alabama pulled out a W but not without causing me to have a heart attack and scare the dogs from yelling in the process. Then we went to dinner at PF Changs. Saturday, my mom and I decided to continue shopping and also get "crafty". I wanted to make an "Eddie Ross" wreath so we were on a mission to find some pretty, cheap and no-break balls for that project. We did. Even though I took a few pictures of the wreath-making process, I don't have one of the final project?! What was I thinking? I will get E to snap one for me and email it so I can post it for you guys! It turned out nothing short of gorgeous if I must say so myself! I used the extra balls to put into these really tall apothecary jars, along with some tinsel for the mantle. I also made stockings, but again, forgot to take a picture. Then Sunday, we spent it with my grandparents celebrating my cousins 4th birthday! E came home from hunting, we decorated the house just a little, cooked dinner, and then the exhaustion from the whirlwind weekend of traveling caught up with us. I drove back this morning! Now, I am trying to get caught up with the important things. Like you know, blogs, C's weekend/gossip, and the Cyber Monday deals. Good thing today is pay day huh? Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! I will be back tomorrow with a GIVEAWAY!!

Football Friday Part 13

Today is the last day of Football Friday (for the regular season). There will be at least one more, when we meet Florida in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. HOWEVER, this football Friday is a big one. We play our in-state rival, Auburn. Now, in the past 7 years, Auburn won 6 games in a row, only to meet their fate last year in Tuscaloosa with a shutout of 36-0. What a way to end a streak huh? Let's hope Bama can keep it going this year with a win! The game is today (Friday) instead of the traditional Saturday game. Anyway, the video above is a "fan cam" of the crowd singing Rammer Jammer at the end of the game! This is probably one of my most favorite parts of the football games, to sing Rammer Jammer. It is not the nicest song, but it is tradition and oh so fun!! Here are the words (Note: We insert the mascot/team name of who we are playing to make the song relevant each game):

Hey Auburn! Hey Auburn!
We just beat the hell outta you!
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
Give 'Em Hell Alabama.
Hey Auburn! Hey Auburn!
We just beat the hell outta you!
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
Give 'Em Hell Alabama.

Happy Black Friday by the way! My mom and I are shopping and then home in time for the game! So, enjoy shopping and Roll Tide Roll!!! Beat Auburn!

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! I can honestly say that this year has FLOWN by for me! I always know that when I get to Thanksgiving, the rest of the year is going to be a blur! This year for Thanksgiving, I am spending it at E's family's house and then driving to Huntsville to get prepared with my mom for Black Friday Shopping! We had so much fun last year! There was nothing we just HAD to have but we had a few things in mind and had so much fun in all the craziness! It is our new tradition I think. How crazy is it to go shopping and be home in time for BREAKFAST? So, since this will be the first Thanksgiving that I am not with my family, I thought I would post a few things that I am thankful for.

1. Family that loves and supports me.
2. A job that provides the necessities (even if it comes with lots of stress).
3. Best Friends (J and E).
4. A roof over my head.
5. The fact that I can wake up everyday to hear my alarm clock of birds chirping (even though I complain about it).
6. Scout!
7. Being raised in the South with deep-rooted traditions.
8. Lessons learned that have made me a better person.
9. Just waking up knowing I have a lot to smile about.
10. Sonic ice and root beer.
11. An education from THE University of Alabama.
12. Freedoms (provided by people who give their lives daily).
13. Laughter and silliness.
14. Sunshine.

Of course, these are only a few things, the list could go on and on. But just wanted you to remember the little things that sometimes we take for granted. So, Happy Thanksgiving. But don't let it take a holiday to remember (and appreciate) what you are thankful for.

Thanksgiving

Well, since tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I obviously won't be around my computer much, I thought I would write today a little about Thanksgiving.

So here are some Thanksgiving facts taken from History.com:

1.Sarah Josepha Hale, the enormously influential magazine editor and author who waged a tireless campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday in the mid-19th century, was also the author of the classic nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

2.Though many competing claims exist, the most familiar story of the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony, in present-day Massachusetts, in 1621. More than 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November as a national day of thanksgiving. Congress finally made Thanksgiving Day an official national holiday in 1941.

3. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Minnesota is the top turkey-producing state in America, with a planned production total of 49 million in 2008. Just six states—Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, Missouri and Indiana—will probably produce two-thirds of the estimated 271 million birds that will be raised in the U.S. this year.

4. In a survey conducted by the National Turkey Federation, nearly 88 percent of Americans said they eat turkey at Thanksgiving. The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds, which means some 690 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the U.S. during Thanksgiving in 2007.

5. Originally known as Macy's Christmas Parade—to signify the launch of the Christmas shopping season—the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in New York City in 1924. It was launched by Macy's employees and featured animals from the Central Park Zoo. Today, some 3 million people attend the annual parade and another 44 million watch it on television.

6. Snoopy has appeared as a giant balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade more times than any other character in history. As the Flying Ace, Snoopy made his sixth appearance in the 2006 parade. (This one is for my stepdad.)

Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday! Happy Thanksgiving!

It's the little things....

So, things have been so crazy stressful at work...working 12 plus hour days. Anyways..sometimes it is the little things that really keep me going. Here are two excerpts from the past week or so of things that have made me laugh and kept me a little grin at work....

Documents that need to be proofed:
1. The word was supposed to be legalized...it was typed "Kegalized"
2. A simple email to tell me that there were baked goods in the kitchen..."Pasty in the kitchen."
3. A phone call asking "What is in the kitchen? We need to kegalize that." (Making fun of the previous typo combined with today's.)

Sad how the simplest little things can keep me going on stressful days....
Hope you are having a great week.

Football Friday Part 12 (The "Eyes" Have It) ---*Edited to include a New Moon Update**

Alabama is STILL undefeated and STILL going to the SEC Championship in Atlanta to face Florida! I can't wait!! Only 2 more weeks! This week, we are playing UT Chattanooga. Not really sure who this team is, but I am a little more than confident we will have a W at the end of this one. Next up, Auburn on Black Friday, then the SEC Championship in Atlanta. After that, we shall see. Roll Tide! Everyone have a GREAT weekend!! So, now I am going to leave you with a picture of my favorite Alabama quarterback, JAY BARKER (I mean, seriously, look at those eyes!!), he is with his wife, Sara Evans and her friend, Eva Longoria Parker. You may or may not have heard of them.....I bet they had a blast at the game and had an experience like never before..Roll Tide!! (The eyes people...the eyes!!)



**Edit: So, New Moon....I got to the theater at 10:15, the movie started at midnight. I was there with about 700 other people. It was madness I tell you!! The movie was great. The best part of the movie?? Taylor Lautner. Seriously, I am totally Team Edward, but it should be illegal for someone to look that dang good under the age of 21. I think I watched the movie with my mouth open for most of it. I mean I had no clue. I think everyone in the theater was in awe. The girls were swooning and the guys (yes, there were tons of guys) were jealous. I will have a little more to tell about the silliness of the company and the craziness at the theater. Some of which may or may not include girls dressed up like Alice, Rosalie, and Victoria, and the random middle-aged men that were there without a teenage daughter in tow. But for now, I will reserve the little energy I have for the actual work I have to do.

P.S. - I realize that this "Football Friday" Post has turned into talking about males who have a few awesome assets, but I just wanted to throw it out there that E is still my #1! ;)

Tonight

Well, I said goodbye to E this morning. He had to make the trek back to Huntsville after his visit. Life is calling. Well, really just a duck blind in Arkansas and Opening Weekend, but you know, life. I'll see him again soon though.

Now, can I tell you how excited I am that I am going with C tonight at 11:59 pm to see that movie that everyone has been talking about? We have had our tickets and are just ready to go to the movie and see it. Hopefully we will not be the only ones who do not say the word "teen" when someone asks our age. We are excited. Now, ask me tomorrow when I drag myself into work not really knowing where I am if it was worth it or not and maybe it will be a different story. But for right now, I am going to revel in the excitement that is in me to go see the movie that everyone has talked about. If you missed out on tickets, for now, be jealous. Again, tomorrow it may be a different story. I will let you know...if I can keep my eyes open long enough to type anything. Just be glad that it is E in the duck blind with a gun and not me after a midnight movie.

Just one of those days......

Have you ever had one of those days where all you can do is bite your tongue to keep from either hurting people's feelings, getting in trouble, or saying something you are probably going to regret? Well, today is one of those days for me. (Well, I don't actually always bite my tongue, I usually say what is rolling off of it no matter what.) NEWAYZ.....(sorry, I reverted back to middle school drama days because that is what I feel like today is). Everything that could go wrong and stress me out has today (well, at work). It really stinks and makes for a bad day. Oh well, hopefully I can leave it all at the office, because I do have a cute dinner date tonight and some root beer floats waiting on me! Not much longer til I can get out of the office and go home and maybe try to breathe......

Here's to hoping that your Wednesdays are better than mine!

Slacker

Ok, I know it is Tuesday and I am totally slacking from Blogging lately, I have just been really busy with other things that have taken me away from sitting on my rear-end and reading all about your lives and telling you about mine. Anyway....an update on the weekend, since it is way past due.....
E came home!!! Finally! After 25 days away, E came home!! I got to pick him up from the airport and we spent the weekend talking about what he missed. This list may or may not have included a redecoration of his house that could include a new paint color on the walls. And it may have also included this from Pottery Barn:

I mean, I got bored while he was gone...LOL

Then, Saturday, Alabama beat Mississippi State. And my face was made to look like I was training to be a UFC fighter by the tile floor. What was that? Well, I guess I was just so excited that I finally got to see E that I fainted. That's right I fainted and ended up being up close and personal with the hard, cold tile floor. That encounter gave me a "broke face" look complete with a bruised cheek and black eye. But, I am fine, so nothing to worry about. E was panicking when I told him what happened and I of course am used to dramatic events, remember this, and I was cracking jokes about the whole thing! Don't know what happened, in case you are wondering, but I now have a nice new facial accessory called a black eye.

Now, I am back at work and E is taking a few days off to recoup from his trip and decided to come visit me for a few days. So, here's to a great week. Fingers crossed it stays uneventful!

Football Friday Part 11

Not much time to post, it is 2:35 am and I just got done working! Anyway, ROLL TIDE! Alabama plays Mississippi State this weekend! Let's hope we can hold on to our undefeated season and go into the SEC championship that way! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I won't be around! I have a busy weekend! E comes home after being gone for 4 weeks!!!! Yay!! Have fun ladies and gentlemen, stay classy! Roll Tide!!!

Happy Veteran's Day!

I have the privilege of knowing a few people who have been in in the military and who have served/are serving our country. They are being saluted today, and should be everyday. I am one of those very patriotic people. It irritates me when people move, talk, or don't remove their hat during the National Anthem. It used to bring tears to my eyes every time I heard it. It still makes me so proud. Living in Washington, DC, I walked the halls of our nation's capitol building daily. I drove past symbols of our nation daily. But my absolute favorite thing to do when I lived there was to visit Arlington National Cemetery. Wow. Talk about a place of honor, reverence, freedom, pride, sacrifice, and service. This place is absolutely wonderful it is solemn, quiet and humbling. If you ever get the opportunity to go here, go. And then go back again. It will humble you, and make you fully understand why you are proud to be an American. My roommate and I went every Tuesday after work on The Hill. We would get on the Metro and ride out to Arlington and see the Changing of the Guard, and then walk over to Iwo Jima to see the Marine Corps silent drill team. It is dead silent and all you hear is the clicking of the guns and their heels, the commands of the officers, the claps of their gloved hands on their legs. Then, the 21 gun salute. Then, silence. This always takes my breath away and I am so honored I got to take part in such a special ceremony each week. Thank you to all of our veterans for allowing us the freedoms we have. Go over to Keyona's site, tell her Thank you! She is one of the many men and women who are serving our military (and she has a great blog too)! Thanks Keyona!

It is the
Veteran,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion


It is the
Veteran,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the
Veteran,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech

It is the
Veteran,
not the community organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble


It is the
Veteran,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial

It is the
Veteran,
not the politician,
who has given us the right to vote.


It is the
Veteran who
salutes the flag


It is the
Veteran
who serves under the flag.
**Poem taken from here.

Somebody has to say it

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the time has come that I am writing my 100th post as we speak. Wow. 100 posts. Hope I have entertained you and continue to do so. For my 100th post, I was going to do the whole "100 things you don't know about me" but I don't think I can come up with 100 things, so I chose to go a different route. I Googled "Fun questions to ask friends" and came up with this list and decided I would post them and answer them, or some of them. So, in honor of my 100th post, I will open the floor to you guys as well, ask anything and I will answer it. And be looking for a giveaway soon......
And now for the questions:

1. If you could go back and change something about your high school days what would it be? -I don't think I would change anything. I had a blast in high school. I would probably go back and do it all over again.

2. Who did you have a crush on during high school? Did you express your feelings for that person? -I had a crush on a guy named Jonn. (He was a senior when I was a freshman and we had math together. We went Christmas shopping that year and I went and saw him in a play. Then, my brother dated his girlfriend and he came looking for her at my house at 6 am. (she wasn't there)) Then, we went to the same college and I ran into him a lot there. It was weird how it all came full circle. I lost the crush on him when I was around him in college.

3. Do you sing while having a bath? -I don't sing in the bath or shower usually. Now the car, that is a different story. Or while cooking and cleaning.

4. How often have you driven over the speed limit? -Daily.

5. When was the last time you indulged in binge drinking? - I don't remember. College. I guess.

6. If you could marry a cartoon character who would it be? Why? - Spiderman. (If he is a cartoon character and I have to choose) Because he can fly. And he is also a normal person. I don't like Superman because he has X-Ray vision, that is never good.

7. What did you most get into trouble for when you were younger? - Talking too much and being bossy.

8. What was your nickname in high school? -I never really had a nickname. My brother always called me Deenie. I have no idea why.

9. What was your favorite toy as a child? -A cabbage patch doll named Jessica. I took her everywhere. And she is still at my mom's house.

10. When you are alone what do you most enjoy doing? -I usually read, watch girlie movies or shows, cook and clean.

11. If you are not doing anything what are you most likely to think about? - I am a daydreamer. I like to think of events that are coming up and how they are going to go, or things in the future that I think will happen and how I think they will go.

12. Who was your first prom date? - My first prom date was Evan McGrath.

13. Who is the first person that you think about when you get up in the morning? - E and my family. Then I think about people at work and what I am going to be facing that day.

14. When did you first travel by airplane and where? - I went to San Francisco when I was about three. I am pretty sure that was the first time. You'd have to ask my mom, I don't remember.

15. Who was your first best friend? Are you still in touch with that person? If you parted ways why do you think that happened? - My first best friend that I can remember is Morgan. We lived next door to each other, went to church together, and were born 2 weeks apart. She moved and started going to a different church, so we lost touch. We are Facebook friends now though!

16. If you could be a politician who would it be? Why? - I would not be a politician ever. My major is Political Science and I work in politics and I see everything that goes on behind the scenes and I don't think I am willing to put myself and my family through what some of them go through. If you had asked me this question 5 years ago, I would have told you that I would run for office in a heartbeat.

17. What is the first thing you do when you get up every morning? - Snuggle with Scout and check my phone.

18. What was your first tattoo or piercing and where is it? What does it stand for? - My first (and only) piercing is my ears. My first tattoo was of a frog and it is on my foot. I have collected frogs for as long as I can remember. (my room growing up was inundated with frogs!!) I was driving down the road with my friend and said I should go get a tattoo since it is my birthday. He said, I'll hold your hand and pay for it if you get one right now. So, I did. My parents didn't see it till a few months later. My second one is on the inside of my wrist. My parents didn't see that one for TWO WHOLE YEARS!! Yeah, I'm good.

19. Who was the first person who broke your heart? - Taylor. In college. Until then, I was always the one who did the breaking of hearts.

20. If feathers tickle people, do they tickle birds? - No, because they are all facing the same direction and laying flat.

21. If sheep can’t sleep what do they count? - Shepherds. Or blades of grass.

22. If a bedroom has no bed in it then what do you call it? - Empty.

Hope you all enjoyed the Q and A. If you think of more questions....ask away! Have a great week! Thanks for reading 100 of my posts!
BTW...What a great day to have a 100th post.....it is 11-10-09! Ok, I am done.

It's Monday....Have a Ball.

So, a little update on my weekend....I will have to make this quick because I am a little busy at work today, but I promise I will devote more attention when I can get away from that little thing that pays my bills (also known as a job)!

So, the weekend went like this...
Friday, drove to Huntsville and got my mom. She and I went to the book store to get well, books and a coffee. We stayed up and watched A Cinderella Story til after midnight!!
Saturday my mom and I got up, ran a few errands and then quickly did somethings over at someone's house (details are withheld until this person sees the surprise), sorry but they happen to read the blog...Then, we went home in time to watch the Alabama game. I think Alabama football was designed to 1. Make me bite all of my fingernails off, 2. Say as many cuss words as possible, 3. Put me into cardiac arrest only to revive me every time in the 4th quarter, or 4. to entertain the people that watch the game with me. After Alabama BEAT LSU and WON THE SEC WEST, I had to take it a little easy because I was lightheaded and had a headache from the excitement of the game. I finished what I started at someone's house.
Sunday I went to church with my parents, had lunch, did laundry and made cake balls to bring to work. I also visited with my grandparents, then went to bed.
Today I got up at 3:30 and drove back to Montgomery to work and to bring said cake balls. My co-worker C and I decided to bake some treats for the office to brighten up a busy Monday at the office. She made Sausage Balls and I of course made Cake Balls. We put them in the kitchen with a sign that says: "It's Monday, have a Ball." We started to say "If you need some balls, they are in the kitchen." Then, we decided that would be either 1. inappropriate or 2. Too many people would come to the kitchen at once. HAHA, sorry that was ugly, I apologize! Hope you have a Happy Monday!! Who else is ready for FRIDAY?? (I am especially ready because E comes home after being half-way across the world for 4 WEEKS, yes, 4!) Hope you all had a great weekend!

BTW....Be looking for a giveaway...this is my 99th post! So, there will be something good up my sleeve for 100.

Football Friday Part 10

Well, today is FRIDAY!! And that means football is baaaccckkkk! Since Alabama's off week last week, I hope the Tide is well rested to take on the Bayou Bengals of LS Who? tomorrow. That's right ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow is a big game for The Tide. So, fingers and toes crossed that we can keep the streak alive and send the tigers home without a win. RRROOOOLLLLL TIDE ROLL!!! Have a great weekend people. Keep it classy.



**Image from the University of Alabama Supe Store.

Tailor Made

Tailor Made - Colbie Caillat
Twenty-five,
All of these mixed emotions,
Tangled up in pure confusion,
It’s hard to let go of the past, but it seems,
Easier as time is moving,
Well you said he makes you laugh,
And he makes you happy,
He sees you smiling back,
It is everlasting,
And so he’s tailor made for you,
With stunning golden hues,
And one sweet tone to soothe,
Your persistent beating heart it’s just a start,
And I, have seen you everyday,
You’ve never been like this before,
He’s tailor made, tailor, tailor made,
So let go all of these mixed emotions,
Forget all your hesitations,
Together entwined inside this feeling,
Feet off the ground, head hits ceiling,
Then he whispered in your ear,
He’s absolutely falling,
The words he said are clear,
So don’t insist on stalling
Because he’s tailor made for you,
With stunning golden hues,
And one sweet tone to soothe,
Your persistent beating heart it’s just a start,
And I, have seen you everyday,
You’ve never been like this before,
He’s tailor made,
Oh sister, don’t be troubled,
Oh sister, please be calm,
Cause this isn’t, what you’re used to, at all,
He’s tailor made for you,
With stunning golden hues,
And one sweet tone to soothe,
Your persistent beating heart it’s just a start,
And I, have seen you everyday,
You’ve never been like this before,
He’s tailor made, tailor, tailor made

This song was so fitting for my post today, I couldn't help but post all the lyrics for you to read. It is a great song, so if you have a chance, you should go look it up! So, I was reading Twitter this morning and I came across a link from Myra to this blog. And there I found this story that caught my eye. Well, the whole front page on her blog was about marriage and how you are made for someone just like Eve was for Adam.
“But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him…And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man…” Genesis 2:20,22
The other day I was talking to E about how I really do think that there is one person made for you. One man made for one woman intentionally. I mentioned how I thought that this was how God intended it to be. We talked about how when you find that one person for whom you were made, you know, it is like everyone says. There is no compromise, no sacrifice, they were made for you (from you, like Eve from Adam), and the stars align and all is well. And when we aren't with the one we are supposed to be with, it is done by the choices we make. But I also believe some of these relationships are meant to happen to learn from. Now, I am not married nor an expert on relationships, I just had this epiphany the other day. I thought that since I read that on someone else's blog, I too would write about it and get your opinions. I know most people are married that read this, and if you aren't, I know everyone has an opinion. What is your take on the whole thing? Do you believe that there is one person made for everyone and you just know? If you are one of those who "just knew" how soon did you know? My favorite is Mat and Whitney's story! Go check them out! And tell me your opinions....and Go!

Whirlwind Weekend

So, just a quick post to update on the weekend....I have been really busy today, and probably will be most of the week, so I wanted to post an update from the weekend while I had a chance. We (my mom and I) finished our first 5k. It was cold and rainy. It went really well. I ran the whole thing and my mom ran/walked. We are so glad we did and I personally can't wait to do another one. In other news for the weekend, we shopped and hung out with my grandparents a little. No football really because Alabama wasn't playing. I did a few other things, but I can't write about them because they are a surprise for someone and that someone reads this blog! Sorry! I will post about it when they find out in a couple of weeks! Anyway, sorry so short! I will leave you with a couple of pictures. 1. After I finished the race, I met my mom and ran with her across the finish line. 2. My mom and I after the race. 3. The leaves changing and the rocket at the Space and Rocket Center. (We were driving down the road and I made my mom pull over so I could take this picture just to share with you guys.)