Didn't Forget

Just wanted to drop in to say that I haven't forgotten about the blog! I know that it has been a month since I last updated. I have had all the intentions of blogging, but every time I sit down something else catches my attention! Plus there hasn't been much motivation! To catch up from the last blog, the pictures that I had developed weren't that great! Kinda bummed that I had to pay $7 to get them back, but so goes the life! My original idea from the last time was going to be about Bridesmaid dress and what is the after life for them....all mine are in the guess closet! What have y'all done with your old dresses? Should I shorten the ones that would look good for another occasion?(Sense the sarcasm) I had just bought the movie 27 dresses and it was just an idea, but as y'all can tell it never turned into an actual blog!

May has been a good month so far. May is my birthday month! YAY!!!! It was a great birthday all around! Turning twenty-six wasn't that bad! I don't feel older, however I am closer to the big 3-0 and that I am not pumped for! I have had a few friends who have struggled with getting older, but it just hasn't hit me yet! I feel like it should have hit me like a mack truck by now, but I think it's by God's grace that he has kept me grounded! I think we all know that I can over analyze a situation and we don't want it to come to that point! I am happy with my life! I have a great support system! My family is Ahhhhmazing and my friends are such a blessing to me! I hope that this year is as fun as last year was!

I got to celebrate this year on a few occasions that were really neat! First of all, my mom arranged for some family and friends to have dinner up on the roof top of McCray's in downtown L'ville! It was so cool being outside to see the sunset! It was a great time! Then the following day Amanda, McCall and myself packed up the car and headed down to Dad and Marcy's for a long weekend! The weather report said RAIN ALL weekend, but not a drop feel from the sky! It was so relaxing to just get away! We chilled out on the beach and by the pool during the day while at night we hit the town...SIKE! Amelia Island doesn't have much night life, but we made due with nice dinners and lots of laughs! Thanks again Daddy and Marcy! Your hospitality is beyond words! Here are a few pics from our night out at the Ritz:


Last weekend, my brother-in-law Larry, graduated with his masters degree from Southeastern Seminary! It was great to see him walk across the stage! These past few years he has worked so hard and we are all proud of him! To bad he isn't all the way done, he now has 4 more years of Doctoral work to do! YOU CAN DO IT LARRY!! It was a full weekend of great family time! I can never get enough of that. Anna Kate and Abby are too CUTE for words! I just can't get enough of them! AK is just so smart that every time she saw my iPhone she knew how to turn it on, slide to unlock the keys and could figure out all the applications! It blew my mind and I never showed her how to do any of it! Abby Claire is so FUNNY! She is talking now and it cracks me up! I love to hear her say certain words and her laugh is precious! We have become great buds! The whole family @ graduation and a few pics of sisters:


This week is 'my kids' last week of school so things are kinda crazy, but winding down at the same time! Tomorrow night the gang is going to see Kenny Chesney in concert....cross your fingers that the rain holds out! Just wanted to leave y'all with a cool side recipe that I made tonight. Its weight watches for all those who want to watch there points as well as for those who just love new ideas!

2 Baskets- Cheery Tomatoes
1 tsp EVOO
2 cloves of Garlic
1/4 tsp of Sugar
1/4 tsp of Oregano
1/4 tsp of Thyme
1/8 tsp of crushed Rosemary
3/4 tsp of fresh Basil
eye it-Salt and Pepper

Mix it all in a bowl. Spray a small pan with Pam and bake it at 400 degrees for 8- 10 mins! It's delicious!

Hope everyone is doing good! Not sure who still reads this random site, since I never update, but if you still do please leave me a comment and let me know so that I feel somewhat motivated to write for someone!

Photo-Schmoto

Last night, I went to Wally-World to drop off some old film that needed to be developed. From summer '07 at the beach! Did you catch that.... it was FILM.....I know it's a digital world now! I have one of those big manual cameras that professionals use. I use to be in a photography class in college and LOVED it! That is one of my new goal.... start taking more pics of random stuff with both digital and manual! Anyways, when I went to fill out the film card, I couldn't remember how to do it.... plus they don't do 1-hour photo anymore! WHAT?!?!?! So, I have to wait 5 days to get my pictures back! Guess I have waited 2 years, what is 5 more days??

I have a hard time developing any kind of picture now a days! I can't remember the last time I had actual pictures developed. I even have one of those photo printers that you put your memory card in, but no I don't even use it! I always have good intentions to upload my pictures to Walgreen's or Wal-Mart, but some how I never get around to it! I'm sure that I would then never get around to actually going to pick them up! My logic goes like this... when there are pictures taken they will be put on facebook, Right? Why do I need them in my room? If I don't like the picture I can untag myself or threaten whoever put it up to take it down! That is one of the main things that people do on FB anyways... it has started to loose the appeal now since every album that is on my photo home page is of Babies (20 albums)! Super cute ones at that, but I have hit that stage where lots of people I know have started these cute little families! If it's not babies then it's weddings! One day when it's my turn, FB is going to be a thing of the past and I'm not going to get the proper revenge on all the photos I have had to endure! (Joking)

The point of having hard copies of pictures is to share memories with those who weren't there....so if they are online then you showcase all those great holidays, vacations, births etc.... cause NOW everyone and their mothers are on FB. Then if you are not on FB, you can blog about said occasions. Why would we ever need hard copies again? Plus, I also don't have any new pictures on my camera cause every time the opportunity arises to take a picture, everyone pulls out there camera and then there are like 3-5 cameras in a strangers hand. It just beings to be to much! I have stopped carrying my camera most of the time now! I know I'll be tagged in most instances.....if they ever get uploaded from the camera and then to stretch that put them on FB, MS, or Blogger....

Also now, since I have been tweeting more often, I can just snap pictures with my cell phone and Twitpic them! Instant gratification.....that is the name of our generation right?? If you are NOT on Twitter.....GET THERE! It's where it's happening! Come on, even our preacher was talking about it on Sunday! Anyone can do it! Make your way over there now and follow me!

So, I had all intentions of writing a totally different blog today, but this just ended up coming out.... so tomorrow I'll try to post my original idea! Please check back and don't forget to comment! That totally makes my day!

Lights went out in GA!

Last night was the first time I have ever been scared to be alone in my house! I like being by myself on most occasions....shopping included! My mom went out of town this past weekend to visit my sister for a quick weekend getaway! I usually take this opportunity to turn the music up loud, stay out late, have lots of guys over etc....SIKE!!!!! No really I just do my normal thing! As some of you know, this past weekend Twilight came out on DVD. Knowing or not knowing, I am a HUGE "Fangirl" and was totally at the midnight release of the DVD...(Boo Yeah, got ours at 11:30) I had prepared to stay up late to watch the movie and all the extra features with my friends! It was a success....haven't stopped watching it since getting home!

Anyways, normal happenings went down this weekend. Went to Passion City Church last night with Blake and Amanda... it was AMAZING! God is on the move with this new church in our city! Great worship and message about being founded with the right anchors in your faith and being in the presence of God! Louie brought the Word!! So excited to see where God leads them! Their next meeting is April 10 at the new Verizon Wireless Amphitheater for their Good Friday service! Let me know if you are going to be there....should be awesome!!!

Moving on, I got home kinda late, so I just jumped in bed and turn on Twilight to fall asleep to! Just so you know Twilight is NOT scary. I was almost asleep when the power goes off! I FREAKED!!!!!!!!!!!! The smoke detectors were going off and our alarm system was reading "Trouble"!!!!!! First thing that popped into my mind was a burglar has cut the power to break in!

Last week one of our local convenient stores got broken into at gun point. I also had read in the paper about how to keep your house safe during these trying times. As well as how people are breaking into other peoples homes to steal their flat screens! Then, on the news there is a man still on the lose who had kicked in the glass doors of a house to get in! Needless to say, all those stories jumped into my head! Like I said, I panicked!!!

So I grab my cell and shine the light to get Bella! Then, I go in the room across the hall to look out the window to see if the other houses have power or if the street lights are on. NADA!!!!!! My heart is about to jump out of my chest! I run back to my room and locked my door! Luckily, I had already put up the baby gate up to keep the dog upstairs, so I had double obstacles! I start praying, sitting in the dark with my phone trying to think who I should call! Hello, it's 2 A.M....Can't call anyone! So, PTL that I have the Internet on my phone, I jumped on FB to see if anyone was online....that plan back fired! So, I updated my status and within 2 mins someone posted that they didn't have power either and they were on the other side of town! Man my nerves were shot by this point! I can hear every noise from my room (inside and out) and it kept getting worse! I decided to surfed the web for a bit to take my mind off my situation...I even googled "power outage in gwinnett tonight"! Got nothing from that, too!

The Internet helped to calm me down a little, so I tried to just relax and fall asleep after being in the dark for an hour, scared out of my mind! Then, almost asleep again, ON comes the power! I turned my movie back on so that I wasn't in the dark... if I couldn't have the real Edward Cullen, I was going to have some presence of him in my bedroom at that point! By then I just couldn't sleep....5 o'clock rolled around and I was still awake! With what litlle sleep I got, I spend most of it tossing and turning! I AM SO GLAD THAT MY MOM IS HOME TONIGHT! That feeling of security has returned and I plan on getting a good nights sleep!

TADA!!

HOLY COW, it's been like a month since I blogged last! My bad peeps! Things have been busy, so I can't complain! How busy you ask?....I can't even recount these past few weeks! I just know that I can't believe that it is already the end of February!

My February's are always so busy because of Miss Anna Kate's birthday! This year we went for 4 days to spend some time with them playing at the park, tea parties and shopping! I can't believe that she is 4.....man!!! Here are a few sweet picture of Abby and the Birthday girl before going to the park and shopping!

This past weekend I just did my normal thing....rest, relax, and good dinners with Amanda! Shot out to the Birthday Girl today(well now that its over, just showing the love!)! No date again :( Then on Sunday Amanda, Katie and myself went to Cirque Du' Soleil at Atlanta Station to do some celebrating! This was my second time seeing Cirque and I must say it is mind boggling the things they do with their bodies! AMAZING!!! We missed you McCall, hope you are feeling better!

Last night I was glued to the the T.V. for the Oscars! I have been really into awards season this year for some reason! I have watched them all, but last nights was FAB!!! My celeb-crush was there presenting so I didn't want to miss a glimpse of him! I was totally excited and beaming when he was on screen every time! I know, I know! No shame tho! Rpatz is so dreamy, who can resist him in a D&G tux?? The show was very entertaining when I wasn't scanning the audience for my dream beau....I was really impressed with the former winners personalizing the nominees! Very classy in my option! What an exciting life I lead....that I look forward to award shows! GAG!!

It's a four day work week for me because we girls are heading to Gatlinburg for a getaway! WAHOO!!! More birthday celebrations to come, so stay tuned (hopefully I'll blog). Keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will be good and we can try to ski some or at least snow tube! Also looking forward to the apple barn and the Dixie Stamped! YEHAW!!! My kids are on winter break so Rene' and I have been hanging out which is always fun....we went bowling and today we went to see Confessions of a Shopaholic....it was okay! Cute and it has me interested in the other books out there so maybe I'll branch out from Twilight and read those! HA! So the count down to Friday morning is on! Looking forward to getting away and some much needed fun!!!

Here is a picture of Rene' and I from her final Cotillion ball that I never posted:

Blogger's Block :(

I have had a few people wanting me to update my blog, so here us what you guys are gettin'! Not much, sorry! I just haven't had much inspiration as far as an original post goes and I don't have many new photos....Major Case of Blogger's Block! I did write a rant one day, but I never finished it! Maybe one day I'll polish it off and post it when the urge hits me again! Anyways.....Gosh, I'm lame!!! I can't believe that I haven't blogged since before the holidays and that it's already the middle of January!

The holidays were great though! I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year (kinda late), but better late than never! My sister and her family were in town and when they're here, it feels like a whirl wind of stuff happening! Actually, it's kinda a blur now!

I did A LOT of reading on my time off from work! I started the Twilight series and now I am a MAJOR addict. I can't stop reading them even though I have read them through twice now! I know, I know.....GEEK!!!!! My mom and Rene' were reading them at the same time as me, so it was fun talking things through with each of them! For those of you haven't taken the plunge, it's a must! It is a FAB love story!!!! When I finished for the first time, I was so sad that I wasn't going to be reading them anymore, that I started re-reading my favorite parts and then I couldn't stop myself from starting again. This time though really paying attention to stuff I had missed while speed reading! Oh yeah, I'm going to brag a sec... I finished the whole series in one and a half weeks (mind you that the smallest book is 500+ pages and there are 4 books that size and bigger) WHAT WHAT! Can ya see why my holiday is a blur now?? I must say that as much as I LOVE GWTW, I love these books more! I have NEVER cried in a book more than I did in these(happy cry)! They have made the first book into a major motion picture and I have seen it twice and I'm going to see it again on Saturday at the Fox, which I'm siked for since I have never seen a movie there before! I'll leave you wanting to know why I cried and what this love story entails...(just don't turn your noise up when you read the synopsis)

When Bella Swan moves from sunny Phoenix to Forks, Washington, a damp and dreary town known for the most rainfall in the United States, to live with her dad, she isn't expecting to like it. But the level of hostility displayed by her standoffish high school biology lab partner, Edward Cullen, surprises her. After several strange interactions, his preternatural beauty, strength, and speed have her intrigued. Edward is just as fascinated with Bella, and their attraction to one another grows. As Bella discovers more about Edwards nature and his family, she is thrown headlong into a dangerous adventure that has her making a desperate sacrifice to save her one true love.

Other than that, my regular life has been underway! Rene' will be attending her first Ball next sunday, so I am trying to get everything prepared for that (which is fun, but stressful)! We got her dress today and it is beautiful: long, chiffon, a little sparkle, and very tasteful for a 6th grader!! She will be the belle of the ball! I leave you with a few pics of the holidays: Christmas Eve with Dad and Marcy, Christmas day with Mom, and New Years Eve! Thanks Steph for letting me hoodwink some of your pics cause I didn't have my camera....AGAIN!!! Well, this post turned out longer than I thought! Anyone have any ideas as to what I should blog about next?? Oh wait, I got one.....so say tuned!!!

Clark Griswold wants his yard back!

So back to talking about decorations, I want to reiterate that I love all that the holiday has to offer, except tacky and over done lawn decorations! Let me explain....National Lampoon's Christmas came out in the 80's, so people who aim to achieve his decorating skill need to go back to the 80's! People it's 2008 almost 2009, let's have some taste please! When people say 'curb appeal' they mean it!

Every night when I come home from work, my neighbors have added a new lawn 'ornament'! Don't get me wrong, I understand having kids and wanting to see the sparkle in their eye, but it can be done tasteful! But this family has a teenager and a middle school kid, enough is enough! I kid you not, they have at least 6 of those blow up things as tall as the roof and that sing, accompanied by about 50 other things that light up the whole yard! They wanted to catch your eye, well it almost blinds me when I drive down the street! Can you imagine what their light bill in January? It's not like they get to see it all the time either cause they are in the house; whereas if you are across the street like us we can see it loud and clear lighting up the neighborhood! Plus another thing that bugs me is that it looks bad in the day light with all the blow up Santa's and the the Grinch just chilling on the grass killing it even more!

In my neighborhood, they give out an award for 'lawn of the year', well I hate to say it, but I doubt they will win.....which I'm sure they think they will! Oh, and there is a house on the main drag that has a lighted (fake) Palm tree in the yard and it has those lighted deer with it and a really pretty front door display....please tell me how that coordinates?? Aren't Palm tree's in the desert or the beach? Meaning that they should have like a manger scene set up? It's so random! To each their own I guess! I know this might sound mean, but whats the matter with wreathes and some white/colored lights and like deer or Santa or a angel in the yard? What's the need to over do it and see if you can blow a fuse?
Since I was a kid, we have always gone to look at Christmas lights and the luminaries that lined the streets! I still like doing that, but when I see a yard/house with so much stuff it just losses that effect for me! SO what kind of outside decor do you guys put out? Or do you have any crazy decorated neighbors?

wedding festivities!

With the holidays in full swing, I have been really busy at work! I have been coming in early and staying late doing Christmas shopping, Christmas baking, and decorating! I love decorating for Christmas! This year mom put up our holiday decor without me and I was sad because she and I usually do it together with Christmas music and she ALWAYS dances like a reindeer to this specific song....that's my mom for ya!! Here is a picture of what Rene' and I have been up to trying to celebrate the season! She picked out a Gingerbread Train instead of the conventional house! Let me tell you, it was a MESS! I love Ace of Cakes and I thought I could handle it, but it was harder than you think! Guess my dreams of working for Duff are over!
Besides working being busy, I was in one of my best friends wedding last Saturday and we all know how those festivities go. It was such an honor to be standing up there with her b/c we have seriously been planning that day our whole lives!!! She was such a beautiful bride and Brian is a lucky man to have her! We had so much fun the whole day and night! With all the stress that Katie has been through this semester with school and then losing her first reception site, it was so nice to just relax and have fun! It turned out to be so beautiful!


My sister and the girls were in town the whole week leading up to the wedding, so that also kept me busy at night from shopping trips to just hanging out! Here is a picture of all the girls at our favorite restaurant the Zodiac at Neiman Marcus. We go there for all kinds of occasions from when we "became" a lady to my sisters bridesmaid luncheon and now we have started a new tradition for a Christmas lunch!

Anna Kate and Stephanie also came to the wedding and that was so fun because that was AK's first wedding... she was a mesmerized. All she wanted to do was dance! Dad and Marcy were there as well. We had fun taking pictures and laughing at AK on the dance floor b/c at one point she laid on the floor in her fancy dress, propped up her head and started shaking her legs like a dead bug....SO FUNNY! Needless to say we were crying b/c it was so funny and we even got it on video, should be on stephs blog soon! It really was a memorable day! Here are a few more pics from the wedding: