still at a loss for things to say

I'm still alive, and reading your blogs. I don't comment much, but I'm reading. I think one day I will write again but for the time being I just can't seem to come up with much to say. One day, one day.

taking a break

I'm taking a much needed break from blogging. I will be back..... sometime.

I quit my job today

Ok, I actually quit my job yesterday, but same difference. Here's the story:


While I was in college a few years back, I had a job that I L.O.V.E.D. I was the assistant to the merchandise buyer at a local college merchandise establishment. I can't stress how great this job was - only problem? Well, it paid a college salary and that didn't support the "grown-up" bills I had after college (Read: rent, insurance, etc etc) so I took a job with another company in town. I needed more money - what was a girl to do? So I stuck with this job for a year and half. I switched positions in the company - from accounting to sales. I didn't like either one, but I was miserable in sales. I loved getting to have lunch with friends, and shop or run errands if/when I needed to, but I hated my actual job. I was stressed out all the time.

I had decided a few months back that I would give it until December and then start really looking for something else. Until then I just prayed that the Lord would either change my heart about it, or give me patience.

One day last week I went to the place where I worked in college to talk to them about buying something from me. While there the manager was telling me how she was in desperate need of a new manager to help her out. Her parents own the store, and also own 3 other stores throughout Tennessee and Arkansas, so while she is managing the store here in town, she is also responsible for the other 3 stores. She asked me (jokingly) if I wanted to come back to work with her and without a second thought I said "YES!"

After going home, doing some major praying, consulting with Ben and my parents I decided that this was the Lord's way of relieving me of my stress and job that I hated. I had to take a caliber test to see if I had the skills to be a manager, and it turns out I do! (It also said that I would probably hate sales. Duh!)

Yesterday after signing some paper work at the new job, I went and quit my current job. It was very difficult, but great at the same time.


Goodbye suits and heels - helloooooooo blue jeans!

Where does it go?!?

Time that is. I honestly had no idea it had been a week since I last posted. I guess life just gets away from me at times. As a result of me being busy and not posting, I have quite a bit to catch you up on.

First I owe you some photos from Mr. Rights wedding.

Mrs. Right and her mom - I love this picture


Mr Right and his parents -

Mrs. Right's entrance - soo fun!!

First Kiss

First Dance

Happily Married!!!!

The wedding was great fun! I got to catch up with old friends that I never see, and I got to watch my bestfriend get married. Perfect :)

I also have pictures to share from:
Tennessee/Florida game (that was a joke of a game)
The Lovebug epidemic in south Alabama
Tennessee/Auburn game (WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!)
And probably more that I can't think of right now.

I think I'm quitting my job today so I have a lot on my mind. Maybe when today is over I will have more energy to write. And I have 260 unread items in my google reader - yippee!

Last thing - check out my friend Whitney's blog for a great giveaway today!

Feeling the love and passing it on!

My friend Becky over at Weeksie50 was soo sweet and passed this blog award to me! Thanks girl!!

Here are the rules:

Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude.
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes.
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids.

These are the rules for The Smile Award:
1. The recipient must link back the the award’s creator
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

So now I am here to pass this along to 5 of my dear bloggy friends. I had a VERY hard time narrowing this down because I love to read so many blogs - but here is who I pass this to.....

1. Whitney at My Journey toward: The Glamorous Life of a Housewife.
Whitney is such an amazing girl! She loves the Lord and always says the sweetest most inspiring things.... not to mention she's stinking hilarious! I just know that if we lived close to each other that we would be Best Friends.

2. Jenna at these are the days
You will fall in love with this girl! She always has the most fun things to post about writes soo well! You even get to see adorable pictures of two cute little boys that she babysits - and the stories she tells about this? So funny! Check her out - you won't regret it!

3. Insane Mama

She is creative, fun, loves her family and tells the best stories. You never know what you're gonna get when you log onto her blog! You may find yourself rolling on the floor laughing as she tells how she set up a fart machine outside her window while her neighbor was having a party, or you may shed a tear or two as she tells stories from her past. Either way you walk away feeling like she gave you a piece of herself.

4. Mallory at The Lacey's
Mallory is a local Memphis gal like me. I love checking in and seeing what she's been up to. She and her husband are so cute..... so just posted a fun thing showing what their kids might look like!

5. Amy Beth at Ministry So Fabulous
Amy Beth is a 20-something girl whose heart and love for the Lord are soo apparent in everything she writes. She started a ministry for girls while she is in college (wow!) and she writes about that and the other joys and struggles in her life. She's pretty amazing I tell ya!


and to everyone else - I think you're great too!

Always the bridesmaid - never the bride!

My blog friend Megan over at The Life and Times of Megan recently got married, and she is hosting a "post your wedding pictures" party. We all know that I've never been married, but she said all the single gals could post pictures of them as a bridesmaid! And goodness knows I've been one of those enough times (7).

I only have pictures on my computer from 3 of the weddings.... not sure why, but that's how it goes.

These three weddings are from 3 of my best girlfriends in the world... take a trip with me down memory lane.


Wedding #1: A-Train and DeWayne.

A-Train and I grew up in the same small town. Her grandmother lived right down the street from me and I would see her and her cousins out playing all the time. But our paths never really crossed until I went back to school. We met in the same Advanced Biology class that I met Mr. Right and DY in. Once we both got into college, we kind of lost touch. I'd run into her at wal-mart or around town during holiday breaks, but that was really about it. Until one day A-train called me out of the blue and said "Hey, I've got a job interview in Memphis next week. Do you mind if I come stay with you?" To make a long story short, she got the job, moved to Memphis and we moved in together. DeWayne, her boyfriend at the time also moved up here. After living with her for two years, they became two of my best friends. They tied the knot in our home town in June of 2006. Here a few pictures from their big day.

A-Train and her bridesmaids waiting for the wedding to start

Here we are again!

Mr & Mrs DeWayne

Wedding # 2: LiLi and Coach

LiLi and I met my freshman year of college. Our rooms were right next dorm rooms were right next door to each other. In a world of not knowing a single soul LiLi and I started a friendship that I know will last a lifetime. We've been through some very good times together, but also some very hard times. We live 3 hours apart from each other now, but I will always and forever call her my best friend. After college, LiLi was set up with Coach by her grandmother! They knew right away they were meant to be together and they said "I Do" in March of 2007 at her parent's house in Lousiana.

Me and Lili

All the girls in the tub!
(sorry it's a little dark)

her dad giving her away....

Wedding # 3: Schneeder & Doc

Schneeder and I met in 2000 on a mission trip to Costa Rica. She was from Ohio, I was from Alabama so when we got back home from our trip we didn't see much of each other. We both finished high school, then went off to college. An occasional card or Instant Message kept us in touch. But in the spring of 2005 I got a familiar phone call "hey! I have a job interview in Memphis! Can I come stay with you?" You know how this story goes - she got the job, and moved in with A-train and me. After A-train got hitched, Schneeder and I moved into a house by ourselves. (Sometimes I think God put me in Memphis because he know i'd be a gateway and a friend to many of my friends who would end up here.... these aren't the only two friends of mine that have come here since I've been here). Schneeder and Doc met in August of 2007, were engaged in November/December (can't remember) of 2007 and got married this past August. "Love at first sight" we beyond true for these two.

me with a few of the other bridesmaids

Cutest flower girl in the world!


saying "I do"

The whole wedding party

Being apart of such a special day of my dear sweet friends was and is always so much fun! And I can't wait until they stand by my side when my day arrives! I know it is coming eventually, and I will patiently wait until the time is right. Until then I will enjoy this time w/ my boy that the Lord has given me.

Ahoy, me hearties!

Yo ho Yo ho! Yar matey! Today is none other than National Talk Like a Pirate day! So Lass' grab your Gentleman o' fortune and rustle up some doubloons. Don't be a scallywag or swarshbuckler!

Who doesn't love free stuff?

Hey girls - Stacy is giving away a great book all about JUNK! :) Click below to check it out!

well I declare!

a few weeks ago, our good friends JC and Merrie were over hanging out, and Ben and I were voicing our frustrations about being out of town every weekend. Ya see, since April we have been gone at least every other weekend, if not several weekends back to back. Our frustration with this is that we haven't been able to find a good church home. He and I were both brought up in different denominations (me: Baptist him: Catholic/Methodist) so finding a church we both like and feel comfortable in has, needless to say, been difficult. You throw being gone all the time in that mix and it's nearly impossible.

So - while telling JC and Merrie about this, they were explaining how they have been going through the same thing. Merrie just moved to Memphis a few months ago to be with JC, and they are getting married in November. Their wedding is out of state, so they are gone as much, if not more than we are.

They told us about this Bible Study they had started going to on Tuesday nights and invited Ben and I along. We both jumped at the opportunity. While we are gone on the weekends, we are always here during the week - especially on Tuesdays! So last night we all loaded up and headed to Bible Study. It meets each week at a different persons house.


Now, if you noticed before I said I grew up in a Baptist church. I also went to a Baptist college. I ate, slept, and breathed Baptist until I was about 20 and realized there was more to life than being Baptist! (not really - Im totally exaggerating) But the one thing it did take me a while to realize after leaving my sheltered South Alabama, Baptist life is that alcohol is not from satan! I know now that I will not die and go to hell for having a glass of wine or a margarita if I so choose. Hallajulah Thank ya Jesus! (again, I am exaggerating about this as well)

Please do not get me wrong on this. I love the Lord with all my heart, and I am not bashing Baptists (or any other denomation) - I'm just stating what my thoughts on alcohol were a bit deminted.

MOVING ON! I'm getting so sidetracked. Bible Study. So we walked into this home (HUGE, GORGEOUS HOME) and everyone was on the back patio socializing. The four us of went to say hello to everyone, and then I saw it: the alcohol. I must admit; I was slightly taken aback. Alcohol as BIBLE STUDY?! Even when the preacher started teaching, people were just drinking a beer, reading their Bible, asking questions. It was such a surreal moment for me. Even though I've come to a place where I no longer see drinking as a bad thing, seeing it in that environment was too weird. I guess I still saw it as something that was ok to do - just not in church (or a church like setting).

But hey, Jesus drank wine and taught. Why shouldn't we drink wine and learn? I think I'm going to enjoy this Bible Study!

Swap

OK, so I keep seeing all the adorable things that people are getting/giving in these swaps, and reading about how they got to meet so many fabulous new friends. I've never done a swap, but I want to give it a try! Only problem is, I don't know how to go about finding/getting involved with one. Do any of you ladies know of one that is going on now?


Thanks!

Do you love me?

Add me as a blog you follow! Click the button to the left and you'll be all set!

Clarification

1st of all, Mr Right's wedding was great. I'm waiting till I have a moment to get my pictures uploaded before I tell you about it. But I will - promise

But I want to clarify that the title of my last post "HURRY! GO GET GAS" was not me telling you to go get gas. It was merely me making fun/pointing out what people in my life were saying to me. I received a rather..umm... straightforward comment (which has now been deleted) about how I should get a life, stop over reacting to little stuff, and just because the price of gas going up is a problem for me, that doesn't mean it is for anyone else, so who am I tell everyone to "hurry and get gas"

So now ya know.... I wasn't being bossy (don't get me wrong, I've been known to be bossy before).

Hurry! Go Get Gas!

Is everyone in your life freaking out about gas right now? I had two co-workers, Boss and GrannyP (she's new, I'll have to tell ya all about her later) come up to me and tell me that I "better run get gas, it's going up to $5.00 tonight."


really? really? really? You're telling me that it's going to go up $1.50 in a matter of a few hours?


Oh alright, I'll go get gas. I mean, since I am leaving and driving 6 hours right after work.... I kinda need it anyway.


While I'm at the gas station, Ben calls "You need to fill up. Gas is going up like crazy. Oh, and everytime you see a gas station on the way home, you need to stop and fill up." Seriously babe? EVERY SINGLE GAS STATION? Thanks, but no thanks.

So I'm paying a lovely $3.89 a gallon to fill up my baby and my mom calls "have ya heard is gas is going up?"

SERIOUSLY?!?!?!!? I'M GETTING GAS PEOPLE!!!


My question is this: Why is gas going up so quickly, when the gas company/station has already paid for the gas that is in the pumps at the time? And wait.... has the storm even hit yet? Do we know if the pipelines have been damaged? Oh, and aren't we supposed to have something like 65,000 gallons of gas on reserve for situations like this??? Call me crazy, but someone is making mad money off this. And it really pisses me off.




Hope you're tanks are full of gas, and you have a wonderful weekend. To everyone in Texas and in Ike's path - be careful. I'm saying a prayer for you!

Girlfriend of the year award

Yep, that's what Im hoping to win!

I don't have to inform you that football season is among us. And if you've been around my blog for long you are aware at what a HUGE University of Tennessee fan Ben (and his family) is. Well, our weekly trips to Knoxvegas (knoxville) are fast approaching. Every home UT game is quite an ordeal for Ben's family. His parents down for every.single. game from Virginia, and Ben and I will be driving over for every.single.game. His parents throw this huge tailgate for Ben, his sister, and all of their friends. I went to two games/tailgates last year but Ben and I were still a pretty new couple so I wasn't sure what to expect. Well this year I want help. I've asked his mom if I could make some food to bring for any of the games and she always says no. But I want to do something.


Does anyone have any cute/good/impressive/girlfriend of the year worthy tailgate good ideas? It needs to be something I can make a day or two ahead and doesn't need to be refrigerated (preferably) .

he's getting married!!

My Junior year in high school, I left my parent's humble abode as a home school kid and walked into the doors of The High School. I was nervous (so so nervous!) but super excited. I grew up in a small town so I already knew a large majority of the people I would be going to school with, but there is nothing like walking into a real (that's what us cool homeschool kids called it) school for the first time in 10 years.

My first period class was advanced biology. I knew exactly where the classroom was because I was so afraid of getting lost the first day of school I had gone and walked from class to class at least twice the week before. Nothing like a little preparedness huh?

Where was I? Oh yes, advanced biology. Instead of desks in the room, there were tables. Two people to each table. I walked in, looked around, and sat at the first table that had an empty seat. It was the table at the back of the classroom, but I was ok with that. No need to be front and center on my first day! The seat next to me was empty at the moment, but would later be filled with the the guy that would soon become my high school crush -DY. DY's best friend Mr. Right was also in that class, and sat right next to us. We all talked and hung out in class. DY and I hung out outside of class a few times, but Mr. Right had a pretty serious gf at the time so he wasn't around much.

But over Thanksgiving break, my sister and I were in Wal-Mart (THE place to be and be seen in my town!) and ran into Mr. Right. His gf was out of town and he was looking for something to do. We went and hung out - and from there on we were imseperable. He quickly became my best friend. After he and serious gf broke up, we tried dating for a minute but realized very fast that we were better off as friends.

That was 9 years ago, and to this day he is still so near and dear to my heart. Last fall he got engaged to the love of his life, and they are set to say "I do" this Saturday. It's still weird to me that he's getting married because he was ALWAYS the type that swore he'd never get married (although he is quite the ladies man). It's not that he didn't believe in love, he just said he'd be happier not being married. But he quickly changed his tune when he met Mrs. Right. 3 months after meeting, they were engaged. They are the perfect couple and I couldn't be more happy for them!

They had made plans to get married on the beach down in Alabama, but since Hurrican Ike hasn't made up his mind on where he is going to go this weekend, they moved the wedding back up to our hometown just to be safe. I'm so excited for this weekend, I just can't stand it!


Here are a few pictures of Mr. Right and myself last summer.




















It's going to be a small wedding, but I will try and remember to take plenty of pictures. And yes, DY and his new wife (they just got married in June) will be there too. Should be fun!!

I'm in love

Yesterday afternoon I took a little trip to the Germantown Festival. It's a festival with crafty items, and fair food (yum!), and on Sunday's they have a Daschund race. It's seriously the funniest thing ever. We didn't watch much of it this year because it was so flippin hot! I try to go to the festival every year just to walk around and see what's going on. I don't usually take any money with me because most of the stuff is a little to ''crafty" for me.

But this year I wish I had a. taken some money and b. left Ben at home. (he hates shopping, and even though I knew I wouldn't buy anything, I had to walk through every booth.) I came across the coolest jewelry!

Aren't these necklaces so cute? She (Freshie) also makes beautiful earrings and braclets! I can't wait till I have some time tonight to really shop around on her webstite.





www.freshieandzero.com - check her out!

sweet as pie

Yesterday morning Ben and I finally had time to go to the farmer's market down at the train station. We got some delicious fruits and veggies. A big ole basket of peaches were calling my name and demanding to be made into a peach pie.

Peel and cut up 3-4 cups of peaches

I used Pillsbury premade pie crust, sprinkle flour on bottom of pie crust and put into 9'' pie pan

Depending on sweetness, add 2-3 tbsp sugar (for really sweet peaches) or 1/2 cup sugar (for tart peaches). 3-4 Tbsp Flour. 1/8 tsp cinnamon. Pour over peaches and mix together. Then pour into pie pan


Dot with butter


Put second pie crust on top, pinch edges together, cut slits in top, and sprinkle with sugar

Bake 35-45 minutes at 350 degrees

and ta-daa! a peach pie!

serve hot with vanilla ice cream and you're sure to have a hit! I didn't get to take a picture of it once it was cut because there were 3 guys over hanging out with Ben and it was gone before I knew it!

Hanging my head in shame

I'm so ashamed that I've been MIA for the past week, but I have no excuse. I've been busy, yes, but I still could have made time for you.

*sigh*

Well since I've left you out of so many things, here's the quick rundown of what you've missed:

Gustov - my family and friends fared well. Since ol Gustov decided to spare Alabama and Mississippi I only had a few friends left in his way. My thoughts and prayers still go out to all those who were effected by the storm - and of course for those that the new storms are about to hit! yikes!

Last weekend - Ben's parents came into town from Virginia. They flew in on Friday afternoon and were here until Tuesday morning. Here's what our weekend looked like:

• Central BBQ
• ZooBrew
• 2 hour shopping trip to Lowe's
• 1 hour shopping trip to Costco
• Garage organization - aka shelfs and bike hangers, etc
  
• Trolley ride downtown
• Rendezvous BBQ
• Beale Street
• More garage organization
• Homemade Pizza Making 101 (Ben has bragged on his dad's pizza for a year now, so I finally got to learn how to make it!)
• More shopping and touring of Memphis
• Football party to watch the Vols get beat by UCLA (it was a bad bad night in Memphis that night!)

So needless to say it was a busy weekend!

Tuesday - relaxed and finally got a pile of stuff on ebay

Wednesday - watched my girl Sarah Palin rock my socks off

Thursday - Did NOTHING! - it was great :)



So now you're all caught up! I promise from the depths of my soul that I'm going to do better.....

worried

My parents, sisters, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and SO many friends live right in the projected path of Gustav. Please keep the people on the Gulf Coast in your prayers.

Mama Africa

I'm a sucker for a bargain. Always have been - always will be. I have even been known to travel great distances for a good bargain. So when I heard about "Mama Africa" - I knew I had to go.

Saturday morning Beckster and I headed down to a part of town I don't frequent very often (Read: never) because we had heard there were bargains to be had. What kind of bargain would entice me to take my own life into my hands? Oh - I don't know. Say designer knock of bags for $25- $30? Yes, that kind of bargain.

I had no idea what to expect. I was told "get off the interstate, travel down 3rd street for about 8 -10 miles. It's at the "old drive-in" (if that doesn't sound shady, then you don't know Memphis!). You can't miss it - you will see these huge African paintings all over the side of the road." niiiiccee.

So now, without further adue, I give you Mama Africa


At Mama Africa you can find some things that look like "smelling salts", African carvings, and Pants. (Fuchsia was also available, but somehow those didn't make it in the picture)




Need tires for your car? No problem - you can find those here too! Although I'm not convinced they aren't hot. I bet a set of my tires was sitting over there. But that's another story for another day


If you get hungry while shopping at Mama Africa - have no fear! Chicken wings are near!


If you bring the kiddies along, and they are tired from all the shopping they can play a fun little game -

And if the men in your life can't handle the bargains - they can head across the street for a little action themselves!



But alas - great purses were to be found. Between Beckster and myself, we got 2 Prada bags, 1 Coach bag, and 1 Chanel bag. All for $100.00!







Ben gave me a good talkin to later that day about how 2 girls do not need to be venturing to that part of town alone. Clearly he doesn't understand that I can hold my own!

It's Friday night and I feel alright

G-round the grill master

Yes, this is what my friday night will consist of. Happy Friday Ya'll! Have a great weekend!

So Unique

I stole this from JKW'S blog - but I thought it was fun and interesting.


This is how many people in the U.S. have my name! I'm pretty special huh?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 7 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

But this is how many people in the U.S. have the name that I will have if Ben and I are ever to get married:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 1 or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

That's right! I'd be THE ONLY ONE!

Um, Mindy? Where's the cheese?

So I'm a few days late on this post, but this past weekend was mine and Ben's 1 year anniversary. No, we aren't married. Yes, we're only dating. Yes, I know it's lame. Whatever - I do what I want. :)

Anyway - the whole weekend was a a blast. Friday night we decided to hang out with our friend G-round. Well having G-round over turned into having C-squared and her boy Jersey, Beckster, Roommate and his woman(I haven't come up with a name for her just yet), Lil Kinko, LeDouche, and our friends JHJ (Yes, I know.... you need a better name.) over as well. We had a blast. It rained all night so we just hung out at Ben's, ate too much, played some games and watched an amazing Michael Phelps race.

For quite sometime I've been wanting a bicycle, so Ben told me on Saturday morning that he was getting me a bicycle for our anniversary. I was beyond excited! We hit the road and headed to some bike shops. The first one was closed, and the second one was not helpful. We were in there for a good 15 mins and not one single person acknowledged we were there. Hi? Yes, I know I'm fat and I don't look like I belong on a bike! But I want a bike dangit! HELP ME!!

The unhelpful bike shop happened to be right across the street from the place I worked when I was in college.I'm still good friends with my boss from that job and Ben has never met her. So I grabbed Ben and we ran inside real quick so they could meet. Little did I know when I dragged my UT Vols fan boyfriend, who was obviously wearing a bright orange UT t-shirt, into a University of Memphis bookstore, that Joey Dorsey - the #1 player for the UofM basketball team (aka huge local celebrity) would be in there signing autographs. What happened when I went trapsing in with my obnoxiously orange boyfriend? Oh, Joey Dorsey asked him to leave. Ha! No joke! He said "Um, excuse me. You need to go." we laughed... Joey said "no, I'm not kidding. leave." Yes, it was awkward. No, we didn't leave.

Ok I'm getting on with it. I'm getting sidetracked - sorry. We finally left the bookstore where Ben was hated and made one last stop at a different bike shop in hopes of finding a bike. Ben had given me the lecture of "we don't have to buy something today. blah blah blah" yea, yea, I know.... let's get on with it. We finally found a helpful soal and he explained everything I would never need to know about a bike - and more. I "test drove" a few around the parking lot before finally decided on my beauty.


Here she is in all her glory.


Don't you just love her? I do.

I'm going to skip a good bit because I know I'm losing you. Sunday was our actual anniversary. We went and did a little shopping, had a delicious brunch, then went and had a little bike ride. It was so much fun. Sunday night Ben surprised me and took me to The Melting Pot. Yum! I love love that place! Ben had never been to a fondue restaurant, but he loved it too! Only thing was, he was soo confused when they brought out the meat part of the meal. They got the broth stuff cooking, and when the guy left Ben looked and me and said "where's the cheese?" With a confused look on my face I said "the cheese is only the 1st partof the meal. we already ate that." He then went on to explain that he though "fondue" meant "cheese" and cheese was a part of every course. really honey? You wanted to cook your steak in cheese? And what about the chocolate? Cheese and chocolate? I don't think so. It took him awhile to realize they weren't bringing us more cheese, but in the end I think he finally figured it out.

Workplace Wonders: You're showing your age there, sister!

Let me tell ya about a few of the folks I work with -

First we have Boss. Now, Boss isn't really the boss but she sure thinks she is! She is in her 40's and is on my sales team and has been here the longest of all the sales folks. She is very helpful when I need help or have questions, but everything goes to her head and she is ALWAYS RIGHT. Therefore she knows more than anyone else here, and should be the boss.

Next we have BikerBabe. BikerBabe is a 61 year old lady that is also on my sales team. She smokes like a chimney and always talks about going to Bike Night, and hanging out at the Bike Shop. She is something else I tell ya!

I sit between Boss and BikerBabe so I can hear pretty much everything they say and do - super exciting, I know. Anyway, I've been noticing lately the different ways all three of us go about doing things. For example - when one of us needs a phone number: I go to google it, Boss calls directory assistance, and BikerBabe looks it up in the phone book. If I need a file that BikerBabe has on her computer - she prints it out, goes to the copy machine and scans it in as a PDF then sends it to me. Of if she's in a hurry she just prints it out and lays it on my desk. Attaching it directly from her computer is not an option for BikerBabe (I've showed her numerous times but she never remembers that is an option).

Another example: Yesterday we all received updated and revised maintenance agreements that we are supposed to be using from here on out. Here is what we all did with them. Boss saved a copy, then printed out 25 so she could have them sitting in her file cabinet ready to be used (she will have to manually fill these out), BikerBabe asked me to help her print out 1 copy. She then took that one copy up to the copy machine and made 100 copies of it so that she could always have one available. What did I do? I just saved it to my computer. This way I can fill out all the information on the computer then print it out as needed.

I could go on and on - don't even get me started with how they manage PowerPoint and Excel. Oh, and checking their voicemail remotely - ha! What an ordeal!

I'm not saying that one of us is right and one is wrong - I'm simply pointing out the differences in which we all use technology. The thing that got me thinking most about this was the phone number thing - I'm sure by the time I'm 40, I will have children and they will be like "mom? you're using the INTERNET to look that up? Get with the times!" (I have no idea "what the times" will be - but I can only imagine!

Will they ever let me grow up?

So I'm going to grad school this fall- whoop whoop! I'm pretty excited. I'm going to get my masters in Elementary Education. My bachelors degree is in Elem. Education but I never got my license so I can't teach. Thank you No Child Left Behind.

Well as it turns out, I can't afford to just pay my tuition. Hello? Car Payment? Rent? Itty Bitty Salary? I've been looking for grants but the school I'm going to isn't "participating" with any of the grants that are available to me. lovely. I could get an assistantship which would pay for my tuition, but it pays even less than my joke of a salary and I would be without health insurance. That's not exactly a gamble I'm willing to take. My solution? Student loans.

Wouldn't ya know that my parents are making it very clear that I shouldn't take out any loans. "You already have debt: you just financed a car, and you have student loans that you haven't paid off from your undergrad." Oh really? And why do I have those loans? Oh that's right - cause you refused to pay for my 5th year of school. Now don't get me wrong - I'm very very appreciative that my parents paid for my first 4 years of school, and I did not mind AT ALL taking out the loans to cover my last year. It was my fault I was there 5 years - I accept the responsibility. But don't come telling me that I just should just suck it up and continue on in a job (I refuse to call it a career b/c I hate it so much) that I despise just because you feel that it's a bad idea to accrue more debt.

My mom actually made this statement about it "If you were going to Med School or something like that where you'd actually made a decent income one day that would be one thing. But taking a loans to become a teacher just isn't wise." Why are you homeschooling A & K this year mom? Because the schools SUCK and the teachers are horrible!?!? Wouldn't you be appreciative if someone had decided that teaching children and molding our future was more important that making a huge salary?

My dad calls tonight and goes into it all over again. I've been keeping the conversations about it short and sweet because I have this weird condition, that whenever I talk to my dad about subjects that we don't see eye-to-eye on I end up crying - and it makes him mad. But tonight it just couldn't be avoided. He discussed how me taking out loans was not a good idea, I cried and tried to explain why I wanted to do this, he said he doesn't know a single teacher that actually enjoys their job, I cry and tell him I know teachers that love their jobs....... on and on and on.

Please don't get me wrong on this. I love my parents and I understand their concern with me getting into more debt. But the debt I do have is student loans, and a car. I don't have credit card debt or anything like that. I guess sometimes I just wish they would be supportive of a decision I make and let me grow up and make my own mistakes and decisions without telling me how wrong I am and what a mistake I'm making before I even make it.

I've prayed and prayed about this decision and I truly feel that this is what the Lord wants me to do. I guess all I can do now is pray that He changes my parents heart as well.

Ideas? Suggestions?

My creativity is running low -

Ben's house is coming together nicely. We've got it looking like we want it..... all except one thing.


this big, blank wall space behind the couch. I hate it. Ben agrees that something needs to be there, but us agreeing on what it should be is another story. We went and looked around yesterday to see what we could find, and the only thing Ben even remotely liked was a picture of horses running through a field. My thoughts? NOPE! Not happening!

We have hung several iron pieces in other parts of the room so we need something else - something with color and interest. All of you are so creative I thought I'd see what ideas you had. Since it's Ben's house it needs to be something a male would be ok with.

HELP!!!!!

Self Diagnosis

Ya know how some people are freckly, and some people just aren't? Well I'm one of the many that are blessed with "angel kisses" (as my mom used to call them). And as I've gotten older some are bigger than others - some resemble moles more than freckles.

too disgusting? Sorry - I have a point

For the past few years I've become very aware of my freckles and moles and I watch them constantly to make sure they aren't changing shape or color. Well that obviously leads to a paranoid state.

I've sent several of my friends over the past few years to the dermatologist because I was convinced they had skin cancer - so far none of them have. :) What can I say? I'm just looking out for my friends!

All of this rambling leads me to this point. Even though I've sent countless friends running to the doctor, I myself have never been to have any "suspicious" moles checked out. But I've had this one on my stomach that I've been watching for awhile, and after telling my dad about it - (he's a doctor) I've decided to go have to removed and looked at.

I'm not scared or anything - it's probably me just over reacting, but I will sleep better at night when I know for sure it's nothing.

I'm a runner wannabe

Well I'm doing it again! A half marathon that is.

Back in 2006 I had this wild hair that I wanted to run a marathon. Those of you that actually know me understand the hilarity of that, in that I am not a runner. at all. But I signed up with this organization called Team In Training and began training. I spent every Saturday morning at Shelby Farms learning how to be a runner, and every morning of the week running on my own. I ran through the heat of June, July, August, and September, and I ran through the cold of October, November, and December. I was loving it - I had never been able to call myself a runner, but all of the sudden I could. I was a fat runner - but I was a runner dang it!

So in December of 2006 we signed up to run the St. Jude 1/2 marathon as a training run. My full marathon wasn't until January. Somewhere along the way in that 1/2 marathon I hurt my foot/ankle. I went to several doctors and no one could give me a straight answer of what was wrong. It basically came down to this: it hurts to run, so don't run. walk. I was pretty upset about this because I had spent so much time learning to run and building the endurance to do so.

When January came, my team and I loaded the plan and headed to Phoenix, AZ for our marathon. I walked most of it, and ran what I could. It was the coldest it had been in 26 years. I was prepared for 70 degree weather. It was 23 degrees at the start. I had 13 blisters when it was all said and done, and I was absolutely miserable. I cried as my blisters popped while I was running/walking. I cried just about the entire last 3 miles. I cried as I crossed the finish line. I'm not a baby, but I was in pain. I decided that day that 26.2 miles and I were not friends and we would probably never learn to get along. I had completed a full marathon though. I have the medal to prove it!

A few weeks later I had forgotten how horrible the whole experience was, and I began to miss it. I signed up to run the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in Nashville - but in the end I had to walk it as well. I loved it. It was during this time of training that I met Becky. We quickly became friends and walking partners.

After completing that 1/2 marathon, I went on to coach the walking team for Team in Training and I completed the St. Jude half again. I was amazed with myself. In a 12 month period I had completed 1 full and 3 halfs in a 12 month period. Not bad for a fat, lazy girl huh?

I haven't done much of anything for the past year, but last week Becky and I decided to lace up our shoes once again and get our butts in gear! We are signing up to do another 1/2 in December. We started training last night and I'm getting excited.

I would promise to keep you updated but we know how good I've been about that lately! I will promise you this: I'll do my best.

Wish my luck!

not dead yet

I'm still here. I've been crazy nutso busy so I haven't had much time to write.

Ben and I will have been together for a year next weekend, so I've been using all my spare time to make a little something something for that.

I promise to try to do better.

If only this whole car thing was as easy as I made it seem below. This week has been a week of excitement, fear, anger, tears (of joy and saddness)..... but this whole ordeal has just about come to an end.

I'm leaving in about an hour to head to Cleveland, OH for my dear friend Sarah's wedding. But when I get back I will fill you in on all the headache that has been my week. Until then.... have a great weekend!

Oh, and for those of you who were wondering..... yes, I will be making the drip in my new(to me) Acura MDX. Super excited!!!!

Oh happy day!

I think I've got a car! I'm taking it to the dealer tomorrow to have them do a once over on it, then if they say it's clear of problems I will be signing on the dotted line. ohhh I'm giddy :)

Need suggestions...

I'm in a wedding this weekend, and my Florida tan is fading fast! Have any of you used (or currently use) a sunless tanner that you like? Obviously I want something that isn't going to make me orange or leave me with streaks. I've done the spray tan at the tanning salons before, and I love how they look, but we are leaving right after work on Thursday to begin our drive to Cleveland, OH so I'd have to get sprayed on Wednesday (so that I wouldn't stink the whole way up there!) and I'm afraid by the time the wedding rolls around on Saturday you wouldn't be able to tell I had even gotten sprayed!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Oh, and I don't need color so badly that I'm willing to fork over $100, so bargain products are great!

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

What a weekend! It flew by so quickly, but was loaded with so much fun, laughter, laughter, laughter and great memories!

Friday, after the air in my car started to go out, and I smashed my phone in the trunk (another story for another day), Ben and I got on the road about 6:30pm. Rather than driving the whole way that night, and trying to find our way up winding mountain roads in the dark, we decided to stop half way and spend the night at his grandparent's house. We got a semi early start on Saturday morning and headed towards the mountains.

We got to the cabin and the rest of the family was rarin' to go! My brothers had decided that we needed to go find a cold mountain stream to play in, so off we went. My dad wasn't sure where to go to find a stream in the mountains, or if they would just let us get out of the car and start playing so we went into Pigeon Forge to this stream someone had told him about. All of us kids were joking around that we probably weren't actually allowed to be there but my dad assured us that it was fine. Once we walked up to the river, there was a sign that said "WARNING: No Swimming, or Fishing in this river. It has been tested with high levels of fecal bacteria" - GROSS!!!!!! The little girls, A & K were FREAKING OUT! "Ewww gross! It smells like poo poo" (it didn't BTW). So we all climbed back in the cars and headed up the road to find a cleaner place to play. After playing in the cold, rocky creek for about an hour or two we headed back to the cabin. (I'll have pictures as soon as my mom sends them to me.) But about 200 yards up the road we started to smell something..... the sewer plant!! Trust me, I have never scrubbed my skin so hard as I did when we got back to the cabin. Ew. I'm still kinda grossed out by it.

Big brother and sis-in-law made dinner for everyone that night and then we retired to many hours of ROCKBAND.

Sunday morning we were up bright and early - at 6:00am to get ready to head out to Cade's Cove.

We rented bikes and biked the 11 miles around. It was beautiful, difficult, fun, humid, and so exhausting! Here is a picture of Ben and I along the way

and since they didn't offer baby seats, this is how big brother rode the whole way.


And here are all the boys (minus dad) resting after riding down "Biker's Hill"



After the bike ride we had a picnic, then sent mom back to the cabin with the baby so we could go tubing down a river - a clean river. That was just the relaxation we needed after using muscles I didn't know existed! Ben and I cooked dinner that night, then we all just laid around and hung out.


Monday morning we got to "sleep in" until 7:00am (My dad see's vacation a little differently than most ppl do.) then we headed up into the mountains to hike to Grotto Falls. It was absolutely beautiful!





And a picture of the whole family



The rest of the weekend was spent eating A LOT, spending some time in prayer as a family, and making new memories. It went by too quickly and I can't wait for our next vacation!