Let's talk hair!

Yesterday I met the Mommasita for dinner after work.

We emailed earlier in the day and it went something like this:

From: Lauren Kelly [mailto:lkelly@907webster.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 4:33 PM
To: Rowland, Mary
Subject: RE: Hey!

Do you still want to go grab something with me? :)

From: Rowland, Mary [mailto:Mary.Rowland@TheVillages.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 4:38 PM
To: Lauren Kelly
Subject: RE: Hey!

If you’d like.

From: Lauren Kelly [mailto:lkelly@907webster.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 4:38 PM
To: Rowland, Mary
Subject: RE: Hey!

Ramshackle?

From: Rowland, Mary [mailto:Mary.Rowland@TheVillages.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 4:41 PM
To: Lauren Kelly
Subject: RE: Hey!

That’s good. I look absolutely horrible today though…scrunched my hair and it didn’t do too well.

From: Lauren Kelly [mailto:lkelly@907webster.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 4:41 PM
To: Rowland, Mary
Subject: RE: Hey!

Ummmmmm, I don’t want to hear a word. I’m on day 7 of unwashed hair, ha! We’re going, LOL!


From: Rowland, Mary [mailto:Mary.Rowland@TheVillages.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 4:54 PM
To: Lauren Kelly
Subject: RE: Hey!

Oh – that’s right….you’ll look worse than me! Ha, ha.

She’s so sweet isn’t she? Ha! So we met at Ramshackle, a local joint. Love it.



Great atmosphere and not to mention great food. So we decide to sit outside and while we’re waiting I said mom, I want to prove to you how great your hair actually looks. Let me take a picture of you so you can see.

So here’s our photoshoot with a few bloopers, ha!









See, beautiful, right? It's nice when a daughter and her now 8th day unwashed hair can be right. And for any of you who might be new here reading today, you'll have to get caught up on my posts this week because you might be confused and think I don't take pride in my hygiene, ha!! :)

Randomness is no particular order!

*Anyone going to be rushing out to buy the i-pad?


Seriously, what are they going to come out with next?

*Thoughts anyone?


*Anyone that has kept up with me this week knows that this has been my saving grace.


On day 7 of not being able to wash my hair after surgery. Dry shampoo, how I heart you!

*I leave for Nashville in 21 days!

*Gave up my Twitter account awhile back and really don't miss it!


*Have no clue how to do bullet points on blogger, someone please let me know how, ha.

*About have one of my credit cards paid off. YAY!!!!

*Had a wonderful chat with my sister on the phone last night.

*I counted and there's 14 of my bloggy friends pregnant right now and couldn't be more thrilled. Is there something in the bloggy water? Ha!

*The TV show Two and a Half Men is the funniest show EVER!!!!

*I haven't been able to do much exercise in the way of running to prepare for my 5k but hopefully after my follow-up appt. on Monday since my surgery, I will get the go ahead.

*Seriously wonder how some of those people make it on to idol. As much as I love the auditions, I'm ready for the real meat of the competition to begin.


*Vienna from The Bachelor is actually from Sanford, Florida, where my parents live and I love my Florida peeps but she has got to go.


*Had fun hearing what people had to say last night on Facebook during the State of the Union address. Over an hour of my life I'll never get back. Read one comment where someone said the President's tie was clashing with the flag in the background and hurting their eyes. Anyone else notice that? Cracked me up!

*The situation with John & Elizabeth Edwards is just plain sad. I try not to judge because we all fall short. I read a blog that touched on this topic. Read here.



*This weekend I have absolutely no plans..... LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! :)

And I'll leave ya with that!!

Momma's work is done....

And I am back at my house now and it's back to work tomorrow :(

One of the things I love best about my parents house is their serene backyard. I just love it. So peaceful.

Yesterday was the perfect weather and I wanted to get out and get some fresh air. It was in the 70's, not a cloud in the sky and the wind was perfect.

Laid some in the hammock.


Sat out in the grass.


Admired the beauty of the day!


Noticed the way the sun was beating down on the water!


And just in case you wanted to see my no make-up, greasy-haired self!!!! :)


So yeah, pretty much pretend like you didn't see that last picture!

I'm going to miss the downtime :(

Caution...

What is a girl supposed to do when she can't wash her hair for 10 days????

Stay away from the general public, that's what I say, haha!!!

This should be interesting when I try to go back to work on Wednesday!!

Yikes!!!!

You will officially be able to call me a big oily grease ball.

And thus why you won't be seeing many pictures of me this week.

Just sayin!

:)

Well, time to get back to Saved by the Bell where Kelly's 90's hair is looking a whole heck of a lot better than mine today, haha!!!

My Sunday...

First want to think you for all your sweet comments yesterday. Ya'll are the best. I have been staying at my parents house all weekend. There is nothing like nurse mom to get you on the mend and to love and take care of you. I love her.

So my day will again consist of this....



this....



and this....



and this girl is one happy camper because the head contraption came off (please pay no attention to my no make-up self, ha. I look scary but keeping it real)....




Can't complain.....

Happy Sunday!!

Post Surgery!

Hello from bed!!!

The surgery went very well. Glad it's over and behind me. I got home around 5:30ish last night. I got sick to my stomach a few times yesterday but feeling much better today and actually slept pretty decent last night.

If ya'll are interested as to what procedure I had done. Check out this link.

I got the sweetest texts and phone calls yesterday. And want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

I had the scripture Jeremiah 29:11 on my hand while in surgery. And that brought alot of comfort and peace.

I go back in 3-4 months when I am healed and get fitted for the device. I'm so excited because I will be able to hear so much better and a whole new world will open up for me.

Here's a few pictures from surgery day.





This is where they marked my ear to make sure they operated on the correct ear. Has the word "yes" and the date on my ear.


About to go back!


All done!!!


And this is pretty much what I look like today... I will be able to take the head piece off today. YAY!!! :)

Off to watch TV, read blogs, sleep, eat, and be lazy, haha!!!!! :)

Have a GREAT Saturday!!

Surgery Day!!

Please Pray!!! :)

Be back soon!!

Jeremiah 29:11

Service + Food = Total Fail

So last night I went to Chili’s with my friend Holly! It was so great catching up with her!!! Love her to pieces!

We both order the $20 special for two people to share. First of all the service was absolutely horrible. Our waiter was the worst thing ever. Never really checked up on us, took forever to get anything. Our appetizers came out right along with our entrée and then when we got our food it was just flat out disgusting. I mean disgusting. I spit it out, that disgusting.

By that time we had it…. We decided we weren’t going to stay there and definitely we weren’t going to be paying for that kind of food and service. So we asked someone up front if they could get the manager so we could speak to her. Well, apparently the manager was too busy to come up and talk with us. I mean what kind of junk is that? Seriously, the manager wouldn’t even come up to talk with us. So by that time we told them we were leaving and that we just wanted to let someone know and that we wouldn’t be paying and then we left.

I have never in my life done that… But when you’re paying for a service, you would like to get what you’re paying for and you have to stand up for yourself.

We then decided we were going to go to Red Lobster across the street. So if you read my previous post from this week, got my breadsticks and garlic cheese rolls in one week, ha! And we got a whole heck of a lot better service.



Here's Holly and I at Red Lobster. What can I say, we don't get out together as often as we'd like, so we had to document. A worker was so nice and took our picture, ha!!

We need to do it again real soon Holly!!!

So what's been your worst restaurant experience?

"White Coat Syndrome"

I had my pre-op today for my surgery and I learned my diagnosis…

Others of you may have this to…. Heck, I have it and didn’t even realize it until today, ha!

It’s called the “White Coat Syndrome.”

Sound familiar?

See, it’s when you see that white coat of the doctor and your blood pressure begins to soar.

Yes, they checked my blood pressure twice while I was there and it was out the roof. And it was then I was diagnosed…

Seriously, I have this weird fear of doctors’ offices, no matter the situation. My face was red, I started breaking out… No joke people!

I think it’s because I had a horrible fear of this when I was little and think it’s carried over into my adult life.

So if you have these same symptoms…… You don’t have to wonder anymore. You have White Coat Syndrome!

Just thought you’d like to know!

Safe to say I'll never be a doctor!!

Breadsticks or Garlic Cheese Biscuits?

Sorry in advance if this post makes your mouth water, ha!

As most of ya’ll know, and if you don’t know I am running my first 5K race in March. With my limited time I’ve been doing what training I can do on the weekends and throughout the week when I am able.

Yesterday I did some running on the treadmill and I ran 3 MILES STRAIGHT!!!!!! The most I have EVER ran!! I was so pumped and felt so great afterwards.

My goal is to be able to run the whole 5K, and know there’s no shame if I have to walk some but aiming to be able to run the whole thing! If I keep this up I just might be able to.

I’ve had some great encouragers along the way, so that’s really helped me as well. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE my running shoes. I think they were the best investment I’ve ever made.

Plus, I went out to eat last night with my good friend Monica and we went to The Olive Garden… and seriously they need to put a warning label on those breadsticks…… they are SINFUL!!! And add the alfredo sauce and you’re done, just done I tell you. So the exercise probably did me some good, ha!

This is a pretty meaningless question but I wanted to take a survey.

Before we went to dinner I asked Monica, so are you in the mood for Olive Garden or Red Lobster? And you know how I find that answer out real quick? I decide if I’m in the mood for breadsticks from Olive Garden or the Garlic Cheese Biscuits from Red Lobster, ha…

And last night, the breadsticks won!

So here’s the big question of the day, if you had to choose, which would it be?

Breadsticks


or the biscuits??


I know, tough decision, huh? Ha!

Coincidence? I think not!

I have been kind of mute these past few days because frankly not a whole lot going on and my camera hasn’t seen a picture in days.

I’ve realized January is a boring month, ha!

And honestly, all I can really focus my mind on right now is my ear surgery coming up on Friday.

I

Am

Nervous

But do you ever have those days where God will bring scripture to you right when you need it the most?

How great is it that this scripture would come to my mind this week of all weeks:

Romans 10:17- So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Okay, have my attention!

What scripture has helped you in a time when you needed it?



P.S.
I was talking with a friend this morning and she was asking me something pertaining to my surgery and my response was "We'll have to play it by ear".... haha!! I was thinking back about my response and I was witty when I wasn't even trying to be :)

What do you even begin to say?

Yesterday I posted a status on my Facebook along the lines of “Whenever you think you have it rough today, say a prayer for Haiti.”

I received a comment to this that kind of left me not knowing what to say:

You would be DISGUSTED at the vile things people are saying on this video from the American Red Cross about Haiti and the people there. The ones posting such comments are themselves inhuman... Pray and donate, that's all I can say (yes, I'm an atheist, so I just donated :)

This crushed me. Absolutely just crushed me.

I admit, I have lived in a very safe little and naïve bubble. I’ve been surrounded by church, grew up in church. I trusted and believed in the Lord at a very young age.

But sadly, I was reminded that there are people out there for one reason or another that don’t believe.

When I read this I wanted to respond so bad, but just didn’t know the words to say. I had a million things going around in my mind, but to put it to words, I struggled.

In my mind I was screaming..

“ He Loves you, don’t you know that and he has scars to prove it.”
“Just have faith and believe and trust in your creator.”
“Don’t you know where you’re going to spend eternity?”

But truly and honestly, what do you say to a person who claims to be an atheist and doesn’t believe in the creator of the heavens and the earth? Doesn’t believe in the very one who sacrificed his life so we might have eternal life with him.

For people who don’t believe it’s hard for them to understand why Earthquakes which kill and change the lives of millions of people happen. Hard to understand why events of September 11th occurred. Or maybe it’s a situation that is going on in their own life that leave them with doubts and questions and they are getting no answers. They’re asking why would God allow this? Doesn’t he love me? Doesn’t he love them? And they’re not getting answers because they're looking in all the wrong places.

And all the while we’re saying God have mercy on us, draw near to us and be close to us and we know you’re still a sovereign God.

We know and believe in the power of prayer, but yet there are those who mock prayer and believe it’s just an utterance of words with no power behind it.

And there’s so much more I could say to elaborate on this, but I have to ask, what do you even begin to say?

P.S.

This article on the earthquake along with pictures will bring you to your knees.

I wanted to mention that my good friend Danielle at "The Design Girl" is doing a wonderful thing to help benefit the relief efforts for Haiti. Please go by and check it out.

Also, if anyone of you didn't know you can text "DISASTER" to 90999 to donate $10 to Compassion or you can text "HAITI" to 90999 and donate $10 to the Red Cross.

Thanks!!

Wordless Wednesday- Pray for Haiti!

Today if you think you have it bad, please remember the 3 million people that have been affected by the Earthquake in Haiti. It has left it worse than a war zone.



This picture kind of puts things in perspective, huh?

Welcome to.........

________________ and you can fill in the blank..... :)



One of my all time favorite things to do is travel.

I love it.

If I could get paid and just spend my whole life traveling, I would quit what I’m doing in a heartbeat.

My motto is travel when you can if you have the opportunity and just go.

I’ve been to:

Maine
New York (Long Island and NYC)
North Carolina
South Carolina
Kansas
Colorado
Texas
California
Missouri
Nevada (Las Vegas)
Arizona (Grand Canyon & Hoover Dam)
Illinois
Georgia
Tennessee
The country of El Salvador
I’ve been on a couple of cruises

As you can see I haven’t been out of the country all that much. I would love to go to Italy, Paris, Spain, Ireland, Costa Rica, England, Greece, Japan, China, Fiji, Jamaica, Kenya (to visit my sponsor child), and so many more.

As far as the US I would love to visit Alaska (Shannon, I’m talking to you girl…and meet my girl Sarah Palin), Hawaii, Washington (Seattle) and Oregon area, I would love to visit Montana and Wyoming area, Chicago, and would love to experience more of the New England States. Would love to visit Martha’s Vineyard, the New Hampshire and Vermont areas. I would love to go to Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Would love to go to Washington D.C. Frankly, I would just love to drive up and down the east coast. I would love to go back to California and experience the beautiful areas there. I want to see the seven wonders of the world.

So much I want to see. I love experiencing new places and seeing new things. And would love to visit all my bloggy friends of course :)

Better marry a rich husband, or win the lotto. Which ever comes first, ha!

Not much going on right now so explains the lack of pictures lately, ha! But I love learning about ya’ll, so how about you? Are there any places you have visited that pop out in your mind? Any places you dream of going???

I.C.U

A song by Mandisa was on my heart all weekend, it’s called “He is with you.”

There’s one line in the song that really stuck out to me.

“He is with you in the I.C.U when the doctors don’t know what to do, and it scares you to the core, he is with you.”

One of my best friends works in the I.C.U unit as a nurse….. When you think of I.C.U you automatically think of “Intensive Care Unit” and you automatically think health.

Let me put another perspective on it. Don’t we all have our moments when we need intensive care. When we’re going through situations in life where we feel like we just can’t go on and it feels like the load we’re carrying is just too hard?

And all the while he’s saying I.C.U (I see you)..

I haven’t forgotten about you.

I love you.

My Grandpa also passed away in the I.C.U unit in September of 2009 and I have no doubt in my mind that God wasn’t there holding his hand as he took his last breath saying I.C.U… As hard as the moment was, there was nothing more beautiful at the same time watching him enter eternal peace and rest and knowing that everything was made right again as he entered Heaven that day.

Watch the video if you have a moment. It’s a beautiful song. Pause the music on my blog so you can listen.



It’s funny because I don’t know who all reads this blog. And I have new people pop in all the time….. but I just hope with each and every post I write that it always meets someone right where they’re at and that it inspires you and points you to the God who loves you.

He sees you.

Let it snow (well kinda).....

Look what I woke up to this morning!!



Some of ya'll might be laughing... Okay, all of ya'll might be laughing.... But this is big for us Floridians.

It was supposed to be really cold and snow flurries were predicted. So I had some of my plants covered with sheets and this is snow on the sheets turned ice. None of it stuck where I'm at but in areas close by it did.

Humor me here, haha!!! :)

Happy Cold Saturday!!!

Show Us How You Live: New Years Resolutions and Goals.

I'm participating in "Show Us How You Live" over at Kelly's Korner. Go and join in :)

Sing in the shower.
Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
Never refuse homemade brownies.
Strive for excellence, not perfection.
Plant a tree on your birthday.
Learn 3 clean jokes.
Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full.
Compliment 3 people every day.
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
Leave everything a little better than you found it.
Keep it simple.
Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
Floss your teeth.
Ask for a raise when you think you've earned it.
Overtip breakfast waitresses.
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
Say, "Thank you" a lot.
Say, "Please" a lot.
Avoid negative people.
Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
Remember other people's birthdays.
Commit yourself to constant improvement.
Carry jumper cables in your truck/car.
Have a firm handshake.
Send lots of Valentine cards.
Sign them, "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
Look people in the eye.
Be the first to say hello.
Use the good silver.
Return all things you borrow.
Make new friends, but cherish the old ones.
Keep a few secrets.
Sing in a choir.
Plant flowers every spring.
Always accept an outstretched hand.
Stop blaming others.
Take responsibility for every area of your life.
Wave at kids on school busses.
Be there when people need you.
Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
Don't expect life to be fair.
Never underestimate the power of love.
Drink champagne for no reason at all.
Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."
Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
Compliment even small improvements.
Keep your promises no matter what.
Marry for love.
Rekindle old friendships.
Count your blessings.

This list is called "Life's Little Instructions"..... when I was thinking about my resolutions and goals for some reason this list came to my mind. These are relatively simple things but I would like to focus on these a little more throughout 2010.

I'm going to add a few more here as well:


Run my first 5K.
Drink more water.
Write my sister at least once every couple of weeks at college.
Get a pedicure at least once a month.
Try a new recipe at least once a month.
Stay away from soda.
Give more-Take less.
Fervently pray for my sponsor child and write him frequently.
Blog in the evening and read blogs in the evening to focus more at work.
Focus more on school.
Play with my dog more.
Pay off debt.
Spend more quiet time with God.
Read more.

And I'm sure there's so much more I'm leaving out, but as long as I'm trying to better myself from year to year, then that's the most important goal I could ever achieve!!!

300th Post!!

WOW..... how did I get here? 300 posts of pure rambleness but ya'll read anyway!

Bless ya'll.

It was so fun yesterday learning where all of you live. There was even a friend from South Africa. Amazes me!! And yes, I want to come visit someday!!

Well, I'm going to celebrate my 300th post by telling on myself and sharing my stupidity with you, haha!

I'm keeping this real in the hopes that you will love me anyway, ha! Anyone close to me knows that I have my tendenacies to speak before I think and my brain cells aren't always working 100%. It's a flaw I've chosen to accept and I'll be the first to attest to this.

And yesterday was no exception:

So, as you know I live in Florida where it NEVER snows!!! My sister goes to school in North Florida where it gets a whole lot colder then Central Florida. Well, yesterday she was all excited because it looked like they were going to be seeing some snow this week. So I go online and I type in "snow in Jacksonville" (that should be your first clue here)..... and I'm reading this article on the weather about how Jacksonville was supposed to get 8 inches of snow.

So I freak. Majorly freak. Florida is getting 8 inches of snow. So I'm telling everyone and their mother in all of my excitement.

I go back to same article online a few hours later and I read a little more into it..... and what do I realize.....

The search engine took me to Jacksonville, Illinois.

I'll pause for a moment while you ponder my stupidity.

First of all Lauren, Duh.... there's more than one Jacksonville.

And second of all Lauren, Duh.... never on God's green earth is Florida going to see 8 inches of snow, ha!

But that's how desparately I was wanting it, so I was willing to believe it. There is a good chance it could snow if the conditions are right in North Florida, but nothing that will stick and certainly not 8 inches, ha!

So, here we are in Florida...still snowless and after I found this out went back and crawled into my little hole until the snow comes, which means I'll be in there for a long time, haha!

And I'll leave you with that...

When I told my friend Holly about this she laughed and told me I so need to put this on the blog. All for you, girl.

And after this if you continue to follow me on the journey to the next 300 posts....

Lets just say I'll be coming up with some kind of award for you :)

I could easily come up with a post of 300 stupid things I've said or done....Would take too long though, ha!

So how about you? have you said or done something silly this week? Do share!!

Where do you hail from?

The wonderful and cray thing about the blog world is the people you meet from all over. I have 206 followers and I want to hear from ya'll, and all my readers and you lurkers too.

Would love to know where all of you are from. You don't have to name city, but just give the state if you would like.

It still amazes me that different people from all walks of life and different parts of the country can connect through this little piece of the internet. Wish we could all meet :(

And as a fun little add on, if you would like.... list at least one thing you like about where you live :)

So I'll start.... I'm from Leesburg, Florida... for those of you who don't already know.

And I would say my favorite thing about where I live is it seems no matter how big this area grows it still remains small and will always have that small town feel where everyone knows your name. And not to mention my area is very centrally located and has easy access to everything... and can't forget the beaches!!! :)

* P.S Thank ya'll so much for your sweet comments and thoughts on yesterdays post. Means so much. Appreciate and love ya'll.

Surgery scheduled!

If you remember, this past November I wrote this post.

Well, I have surgery scheduled January 22nd. I have a peace about it. And I go in for my pre-op on the 20th.

If you didn't read that post, please do and it will explain further.

I'm just asking that you please be praying in advance that this will be the blessing I've been waiting for and will hopefully be a step in the right direction. This has been a long journey and hopefully this will show some fruits of my long lasting patience, ha!

And in return, is there anything I can be praying with/for you about?

Opening up the floor here.

P.S.
All you northerners need to stop bringing your weather down to FL. It’s supposed to be in the 20s tonight here. CRAZY!!!! I don’t know if us Florida people will make it thru the night!! Ha. Now, all we need is snow :)

Do you dare to be bold??

MckMama wrote a post a few days ago on bold blogging.

It was great.

It was power.

You need to go read it.

There’s a fine line when blogging as to what’s to be shared and what’s not to be shared and what you think people want to hear and what you think people don’t want to hear. There’s most of all a fine line of how you want people to perceive you and how you don’t want to be perceived… especially when you are over the internet and most of these people you’ll never meet and you can mold yourself into this “perfect” person for the entire bloggy world to see and know.

It’s nice to have this outlet to be free to be who I am.

I’ll be the first to admit… It’s easy to want people to think you live in this perfect place in your corner of the world where life is just dandy and you have a blog to write all about your perfect world.

I am by no means living in a perfect world and I’m by no means a perfect person.

I often times find myself telling people I’ll pray for them but get so busy in my world that I never do. I don’t spend nearly as much time in the word as I know I should be. I haven’t always been the best sister or daughter or always a good friend. I fail miserably as a Christian sometimes. I wish I went to church more. I still get caught up in my insecurities. I still have those moments where self-doubt likes to creep in. There are times where I feel like God has forgotten me.

But does he love me any less?

NO!

But despite all of that, my God loves me!

I’m being bold and saying this is me.

I’m looking forward to sharing with ya’ll in the upcoming year and being bold while doing it and sharing the amazing and what seems ideally perfect parts of my life with you and not being afraid to share the not so perfect parts of my life with you.

This is one of my resolutions for this year and I’m going to share the rest of my hopes and resolutions with you on Friday as a part of Kelly’s Korner “Show Us Your Life Fridays.”

I hope you’ll go to her blog and participate and I have so enjoyed reading everybody else’s goals and hopes for the new year!

So, do you dare to be bold?

The newest member of the family.

I'm back home from a weekend with my parents and my sister has gone back to school today after being home for a month for the holidays. And none of us are in a good way right now!

My mom just called me and was like I miss everybody. And my sister called my mom up bawling and then when I got off the phone I start crying.

Ummmm, emotional family would you say? Ha!

We all just love each other so much and enjoy being together. Get back with me in the middle of the week and I'm sure we'll all be fine, but it's the first 24 hours that are the toughest, haha!!! JK... but we all do miss each other terribly.

It was just a great weekend and we all enjoyed having my sister home.

Anyway, if you read my post from yesterday we have a new addition to the family. As of now I think we're sticking with "Sir Winston" as his name, but it's still up in the air.

Won't delay the cuteness any longer!











The most adorable thing EVER!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!

It's back to work and school for me this week.... Life goes on after the holidays :(

Clean up Saturday!

Last night I came over to my parents house and my Mom made all the traditional New Years Eve food and it was so so yummy....

Pork and sour kraut, stewed tomatoes, mashed potatoes, and of course black-eyed peas.

Soooooo good!

I spent the night with them and no joke but I literally woke up, brushed my teeth, and left in my pajamas with the rents and I went over to my house and we had a clean up Saturday and cleaned in my pajamas ALL day! They helped me clean and prepare for this lovely lady to move in with me on Monday.



This is one of my awesomest (I know that's not a word, ha) friends named Jill. I'll tell you more about her soon but I am absolutely stoked and so glad she's going to be my roomie.

But before we headed to the house we went to lunch and my parents have been in search of a dog. For the longest time they've had it in their minds they want an adult dog they don't have to train but there was a pet store right next to where we ate and seriously we fell in love with this puppy who is a mix of Maltese and Dachshund. The cutest thing you ever did see. So we ate lunch and decided we would talk, think about it and they wanted to make sure they were wanting to go the puppy route. This puppy just had their name on it, so he's now official theirs.

And when I get a good picture I will introduce you to Sir Winston :) Ha! Yes, that's what we named him and I love it.

So after we finished up cleaning at the house we went and picked the little mister up and some sushi along the way (YUM YUM), and now we're all back at my parents house. This has been a parents weekend and I so love this time I have with them.

And I'm pooped and it was not a picture worthy day. But I know you were dying to see my in my pajamas, I was NOT going to have that.

So that's my Saturday.

The End :)

Ringing in the New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Well, here we are back at the beginning!

But let me take you back to the last hours of 2009.

Like I said, My BFF Mel threw a surprise birthday for her hubby and so it was a combined bday and NYE party! It was such a blast! This was the best New Years I've had in a long time.

This little man hung out for awhile with us. How cute is he?

The bestie and I.


Timmie and I.


Our entertainment. Let me tell you, he was amazing!!! Played Jamaican and Carribean style music to well after midnight!


There was soooo much food! So yummy!!!




Melissa with her nephew!!


Playing games outside!


Time for some birthday cake!




Mel and the hubby with the little guy!


Now a picture with the hubby and brother-in-law!


Let the dancing begin!! :)




Getting ready to toast in the New Year!


Danielle & Jordan. Went to school with these ladies!


Thought Mel's face was funny!


Lets try it again!




Had to get a picture before he left!


So fun!

In a few days I'm going to write a few goals and hopes for the New Year!

As I type I'm chowing on Cracker Barrel that my sister brought home for me and football is going on the TV. GO GATORS!!!!!

And fun fact, black-eyed peas are free today at Cracker Barrel. Don't knock yourselves over getting there!!!!