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:

Bringing back the 80' with some ELF

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

For months now, my friends and I have been planning a trip to the Mountains. We were hoping to get away and see all the pretty leaves, but we got a GREAT surprise when we got to Ashville on Friday....SNOW!!!!!!!!!!! In my family, snow is like the ultimate fun! With the slightest hint of snow in the forecast Mom is on the ready with milk, bread, hot coco and maybe an occasional spur of the moment trip up to the property! A fire is a must at all times, too! It has been getting much colder this year, than last year where I was wearing short sleeves at thanksgiving, so getting to see all the snow made it feel like winter is finally here.

With the last month crazy busy for myself and all my friends, we haven't had much time to hang out so it was so nice to just hang out and chill with good friends. Sitting around a fire, playing Wii, some good guitar pickin' in the background, a good book, and lots of laughs is what I call a good time in the Mountains! We made yummy dinners both nights and played games that we laughed our aceses off in! If you ever have time, you HAVE to play Battle of the Sexes....it is so funny some of the answers that you get from each sex.....and the surprise you get when they know the right answer!

To the left are all the girls ready to go to town for the day. It was a trick to just get out the front door and to the cars due to all the ice and snow! Don't you know that we didn't want to get our shoes wet much less bust our butts, which almost happened umpteen times....always made for a good laugh! Can you believe that we had that much snow?!?!?!?

Here is Amanda and I freezing our booties off! It was 28 degree's out side and I am sick as a dog too! This was taken on the front porch, where we were trying not to slip and have a nice background of all the snow! After a lazy morning, it was time to get out and see the sights.

I don't know if you guys are aware, but it seems like every time we all get together we end up at Mellow Mushroom! It has become one of our favorites, so it wouldn't be the same if we didn't go up in Ashville! This is were we ended up to defrost ourselves from our oh so FREEZING walk around downtown Ashville. It was a cute little town, but definitely different. Needless to say we stuck out like sore thumbs! Guess I'm going to need to 'Repent'....hahaha (inside joke from the trip)

Who doesn't love to look out over the rolling hills? It was breath taking! This is what we got to look out over while we were there! God is truly amazing! I have seen some breath taking places, but the mountains just fell like home to me! From the time I was little to now, we have been raised going to the mountains for a "getaway from the city". It was the same for my mother and her family because we have property and family still up in Dillard,GA. I found myself as we drove up through there thinking of all the old family stories I have heard a million+1 times from mom and how much I love my families heritage and all the memories we have up in the Mountains!

Wahoo for seeing snow....it has kicked off my holiday season with a BANG!!! Oh and I think I'm going to start doing a favorite commercial/videos on here every week because there are some really funny ones out there that need to be shared! So if you see one that needs to be posted drop me a line and I'll see what I can do!