The New R--Bear

I know, I know! It took a while, but here's Bear.

me with the all the bambinos. I so love these kids! you've seen her beautiful brother and sister here , here, and here.

with J. Girlfriend may get jealous if her boyfriend dotes on her little sister.

Delurking Time

I'm finally on the bandwagon with National Delurking Week. I know I have lurkers out there. I can see you. (And you to the right, and you hunched down back there in the corner. And you with your back turned talking on your phone (probably an iPhone!), I see you too!)

So anyway, be a friendly lurker and admit that you're here, reading, stalking, chuckling at my antique phone. Go ahead, I'm waiting. (And remember, I can see you!)

Fifteen Days

I couldn't handle it! I went back to my old phone. I only had the other one for 5 days and I just couldn't take it. So yes, Apple now has the fancy, schmancy iPhone and I'm sporting my antique model. I still think I'm a cool kid. I'm so cool I don't have to have new fancy gadgets to be cool. (But don't, under any circumstances attempt to take my laptop or mp3 player!)

So, yesterday on the phone I told my husband I was considering returning it, since I had fifteen days to do so with no penalty. Then I mentioned it again last night as we were cooking dinner. He rolled his eyes at me (knowing he'd probably be the one to take care of it) and told me I didn't really give the phone a chance. (I don't care, I just don't like it. It's super hard to text message. It's like when you got to the atm and push "Spanish" just for fun to see if you can figure out what it is saying from memory. Expect that's not fun when I'm trying to quickly text!) Plus the pictures don't show up pretty because it had bars at the top and bottom of the screens with lots of mumbo-jumbo so I couldn't even see the pretty pics of my hubby, or the too cute kiddies I love. Plus the colors on the screen bars were bright red and it annoyed me. I couldn't change them either. Ok, so that's enough pointing out how obviously, horribly, awful this phone was.

Again, back to us cooking dinner. I wrapped my arms around my hubby and squeezed on him. I looked at him with my pretty, pretty blue eyes and gave me a million dollar smile. Then I said in my sweetest, sugar-dripping voice, "Honey, you know how I'm sooooo picky about things, even little things, and I change my mind all the time. Well, there's one thing I'm certain of and I didn't change my mind about, and that's you!"

He says, "Good because your fifteen days up!"

A Few Open Issues

• This week is kicking my bum. Partly because of this, and partly because of my lack of sleep due to this.
• I'm not that cool. I'm sending it back.
• It's not hurting, but still bruised. Yes, STILL bruised!
• Have still not fully decided on this.
• Spoke too soon here, Brrrr.....
• Yum! Could still eat this.
• Would like this to return.
• My poinsetta is still alive. I'm wondering if it could be fake, or if my hubby has been switching it out as I kill it.
• Two murders in our city this weekend and cops are still doing this. See also here.
• Would like to be doing this or this.

Ok, perhaps a lousy post. Could be the fact I slept about 3 hours last night and it's very chilly and windy outside. Yes, that could be it.

This Might Be

This might be the cutest picture I've ever seen. My new cousin K:

Cool Kid Status

I'm finally a cool kid. I got a (drum roll please....) camera phone! Yes, a camera phone. Now that camera phones are no longer the in thing and phones do things I can't even do while not using a phone, (like my hubby's phone) I got a camera phone. I didn't even get a flip phone until after camera phones were cool. Even my little brother sports the fancy little phone that opens with a keyboard. Which, by the way, I think is ridiculous since he's only thirteeen. Talk about the differences in the way we were raised.

I decided to clean out my contacts list once all of the numbers were transferred. I had 232 contacts! Not numbers, just contacts. I call, um, maybe 25 people total! I did manage to get it down to 167 and have faith I can ride 25 more.

I hate getting new phones because they never work like you're old phone. It's not nearly as easy for me to text message on this new phone, a hobby I greatly enjoy while sitting at my desk, ahem, working.

Well I guess I've arrived: laptop, check; pda, check; mp3 player, check; camera phone, check.

Ok, who am I kidding? I'll never be the on-top-of-it kinda girl with all of the cool new techy gear, but my hubby will. Which is good because then he can learn to use all of that stuff for me. Maybe someday I'll care more. Or, maybe I'll always be to cheap to care and live vicariously thru A with her top of the line phones/ipods/blackberries/whatever the cool new DC urban thingy is.

Speaking of A, she found this awesome sleek black laptop breifcase tote that was exactly the item I've been searching for. The store had more available so I picked it up while I was in Chattanooga. Even better, it was on sale!

And This Is How It Goes

Expletive!

That's how I feel. I've said and thought so many expletives that I'm certain my dad is on his way back to ground me or something.

I have a bladder infection. Not just a bladder infection, but the mother of all bladder infections. We're talking I feel as if I have to tinkle every twenty minutes, so I rush to the potty and it's plink! P-L-I-N-K! On top of that it hurts like words that I cannot say and that I'm afraid to type. OUCH!

It began brewing on Friday but I had not clue what was going on. By Saturday, I was pretty sure something was wrong. Mrs. O-to-Be and all of her pharmacist knowledge diagnosed me and took me to get over the counter meds to alleivate symptons until I could get an antibiotic. This was great until shortly after taking the meds and I once again visited the bathroom. Then, I screamed.

Strike up the Pride of the Southland and cue Rocky Top because folks, I had it! What is it?

BIG ORANGE TINKLE!

For-the-love-of-everything-good I just knew that I was dying. I have alumni school spirit, but this was ridiculous! Perhaps that the fish I'd eaten contained too much mercury and now I was radio active. Or, I need to back off the sweet potato casserole? Actually, none of the above. Mrs. O-to-Be informed me it was the meds. Way to scare a girl who already suffers lab-coat syndrome.

After a painful Sunday I did everything I could to get an antibiotic or doctor's appointment on Monday. My gynecolgist informed me that she could see me on Tuesday.

Me: Tuesday? I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL TUESDAY! I'm on death's door! By Tuesday I'll be in the ER with kidney stones. I. HAVE. TO. SEE. YOU. TODAY!

I got an appointment at 3.

I arrive 5 minutes early but being the emergency appointment all those regularly scheduled that arrived at 3:15 were seen first. But I'm not bitter. Luckily I had a book and ring pop in my purse for entertainment.

At 4 I'm taken back for the normal blood pressure, getting weighed, etc. and then have to give a "urine specimen." Does anything sound nastier than "urine specimen"? I think not. Just call it like it is, pee-in-a-cup. After making a big orange cup of pee (not to be confused with cup of tea!) I was ready to get my prescription and leave.

But I didn't get to.

The nurse takes me to a room, gives me a glorified paper towel and tells me to "undress from the waist down." I wanted to cry. I'm a horrible patient and spreading my legs for the doctor was not on my agenda today. I really have to psych myeslf up for the yearly exams when I'm required to go. I huff and puff and strip down, but I leave on my socks. Something about that makes me not feel too naked. I sit on the little table with my glorified paper towel and wait. I'm somewhere between expletives and crying. I'd put on my big girl panties and deal with it, but they're in the floor.

Finally the doctor comes in and does the thing that doctors do. When she asked me if it hurt I wanted to kick her given the close proximity of my foot and her head.

OF COURSE IT EXPLETIVE HURTS! YOU HAVE THINGS SHOVED UP MY CROTCH AND ARE POUNDING ON MY STOMACH! IT WOULD HURT EVEN IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME!

So there I was in horrible pain, feet in stirrups, with a the doctor poking and prodding me all over and getting luckier than my husband had all weekend given my issues, my big girl panties in the floor and my brain telling my foot to kick, my pride thrown right out the window, and wearing my polka dot socks and pretty new sweater. And all I wanted was a freaking antibiotic!

She tells me to drink lots and gives me the prescription. Drink lots of what? Wine? That's what I'm thinking. I asked her how I contraced this said bladder infection to which she answers "being a girl." WTF kind of answer is that? I've been and expletive girl for 25 years and have never had this issue. Finally I got further explanations that I'm sure you all know as well as not wearing my sweaty work-out pants after I run and to sometimes wear a bathrobe and not underwear while around the house. WTH?

Yes, that was my day. Don't feel sorry for me, I'll just be consoling myself in a fat-free, vanilla frozen yogurt (crazy girl!) and waiting for my hubby to come home and cook me dinner. Send chocolate, I mean wine. Actually, I mean both.

And about bladder infections, don't get one. They suck!

I'm a Cake Tasting Rock Star!

J and I had such a great time this weekend with Mr. O and Mrs. O-to-Be. Mrs. O-to-Be, her sister, and I went to the Bridal Show which Mrs. O-to-Be really enjoyed. Actually we all rather enjoyed it and tasted about 283 Wedding Cakes! Yum! It was a sweet weekend.

I love the wedding stuff. We worked out tons of details for Mrs. O-to-Be including a charming bed and breakfast for the Bridal Party to stay. Wow, it's adorable. J and I love Bed and Breakfast Inns anyway, hence our home is the M Bed and Breakfast.

We also had a little detour by the mall. We were just driving by and it beckoned us. As we were browsing clothes I found all sorts of cute things, and then put them all back. I have a real problem with buying anything I can't wear to work. It was too bad too, but I found some very cute jeans. Mrs. O-to-Be made the comment of "I can't wait until I'm out of school and work, then I won't have to wear jeans everyday, and I can wear scrubs." WHAT? Do you know how much I'd love to wear jeans everyday? I like my dress clothes, etc., but I love me some jeans!

J and Mr. O had a nice little man-date too. Those boys are too funny when they're together. Mrs. O-to-Be and I can't wait to send them away so that we can turn the bachelor pad into a charming little home. Shhh! Don't tell them.

Wedding Indulgence

I get to indulge in a little wedding fun this weekend! My best friend Mrs. O-to-Be is getting married this July and both J and I are in the wedding party! Not only that but instead of standing all girls on one side and guys on the other, we're going to stand in couples. How cute that J and I will be able to walk down the aisle together again.

So this weekend we're going to Chattanooga to stay with Mr. and Mrs. O-to-Be and Mrs. O-to-Be and I are going to a Bridal Show! I absolutely love Bridal shows and wedding everything. I'm so excited to get to do this with her. Mrs. O-to-Be is in grad school, has a job, and lives out of town from where her wedding will be so she's allowed me to assist in a large part of the planning which has been a lot of fun for me.

I'm also helping my other bestest friend Ta Ta in her destination wedding which is going to be wonderful. It's the second option of the wedding I didn't have! Don't get me wrong, I LOVED my wedding, but if J and I hadn't done the big sha-bang that we did, we'd have totally been in Charleston on the beach and toyed with the idea for quite some time. I love getting to be part of this special time with my friends. I can't wait for Ta Ta and I to go to the Summer Bridal Show.

I know I'm not the only wedding crazed girl out there. Mrs. S admitted to wanting to buy wedding magazines, didn't you Mrs. S?

Visiting K(and the new mommy and daddy!)

Last night J and I took dinner to my cousins and visited little K. J opted out of the hospital visit so this was his first time meeting her.

I made my "famous" potato casserole (seems I'm always writing about casseroles!) at the request of the new mommy. J and I took it over with some other things for dinner and "ooohed" and "aaahed" over pretty little K.

I hadn't seen her room since it had been finished complete with pretty green walls with yellow accents. There's a K above her crib and a rocking chair in the corner! It's absolutely darling and fit for a little princess.

I can't believe how strong she is. When I held her at the hospital and she was only six hours old she kinda threw her head back. I thought it could just be a fluke. However as I held her on my chest (oh the desire of many!) she would raise her head up and look around when she heard new noises. When her proud daddy holds her up and puts his hand under her feet she'll stretch out and "stand" up. She really is quite a Hercules Baby! It must be all of the football player in her from her daddy.

Speaking of the proud daddy, I never thought I'd see "Big, Tall, and Ugly" (my nickname for him as a child which was made up by his sister, but he doesn't believe me. To even the playing field he called me "little, short, and dumb") so blissfully happy and in love as I see him with his wife and new daughter. They are such a cute new mommy and daddy and are just overjoyed at the new addition to their family.

This brings me to think of new parents. I remember when Pie was born her daddy couldn't keep his hands off of her. Even when she was peacefully sleeping in the crib he'd be in her room every 3 minutes, looking, doting, taking another picture. My cousins are the same way. We were eating dinner and they put Katelyn in her swing, every two minutes one of them were up to check on her. It's quite hilarious, and slightly ridiculous!

However I say this having no children of my own. Perhaps I'll be the same way. But years of nanny-ing tell me that perhaps I'll know better too. I've already raised several children, starting with my brother. I was nearly 13 when he was born and raised him from day one because of our parents work schedules among other things. He didn't speak until he was five and I went off to college. I spoke for him. "No, he doesn't want that. Little brother doesn't like that. Here give him this. Hey Little Brother this is what you want" Besides my brother I have brought 3 little boys from 9mo. old to their current five and six and two little girls from birth to two and three.

Maybe all the incessant checking is nervousness and I'm far beyond that having as much experience as I do. Maybe I'll be the same way and not let anyone hold my baby, because it's my baby and if you want to hold one go have your own! I can see J being a doting father much like cousin and Mr. Bex, checking on baby every waking (and sleeping) moment being amazed and blown away but every little blink and yawn. It's so cute to see new daddies.

However God help the child we have if it's anywhere near my husband when the alarm goes off and he's smashing it on the bedside table frantically hoping this will make it snooze and finally giving up and throwing it across the room.

Stayed tuned for the next three years and I'll update you on our parenting status! For now we're perfectly happy being Auntie La La and Uncle J.

The Truths of Holidays Foods and Weight Loss

Stop what you're doing and eat a Christmas Tree Cake!

Today, much to my dismay, I weighed myself. I gingerly stepped onto the scale and looked down barely opening one eye to see the results. And you know what? I was exactly the same! (Go on, continue the cheering, clapping, and woohoo-ing!) The laws of physics say I should be a hippo by now.

So I know what you're thinking (especially you there rolling your eyes with a smirk), I must be one of those super-skinny, pinky-finger sized women with a skyrocketing metabolism that eats whatever she wants and never gains a pound. Oh no! No, No, No, No, No! I wish it were true because I'd be way happy about that, but it's not true, so not true.

However I've found some things that are obviously true given my recent experiences:

1. Eating Christmas Tree Cakes for breakfast every morning for two-weeks, is an obvious metabolism booster! (Take that impostors!)
2. Corn dogs, french fries, and potato wedges are healthy and should be eaten often. Even twice during a two-day time frame!
3. Making an large batch of seven layer bars, and eating half of it doesn't count! The half you shared cancels out the half you ate.
4. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners containing large amounts of chicken n' dumplins, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, all other imaginable casseroles as well as fabulous salads like cranberry salad and pasta salad, actually burn calories! It takes more calories to eat those fabulous dishes than are even contained in them.
5. Deviled Eggs are a food group, healthier than the fruits and vegetables food group.
6. Snacking (more preferably noted as "grazing") often on tasty treats such as Christmas Candy, Reese's Cups, Chips, Chips and Dips, Dips straight out of the container, is favorable for keeping your tummy full, thus happy, thus making it not want to hold onto fats and make you gain weight.
7. Sodas, regular sodas that is, and Sweet Tea (real, Southern, TN sweet tea and Pal's Tea) is just as pure and healthy as water, only tastier!!! Oh, and wine! Don't forget the wine!
8. Eating out is the new black! Be sure to order things such as fried chicken tenders, honey shrimp cantonese, loaded baked potatoes, and any sort of tasty looking pasta bathed in cream sauce.

So there you have it. I know it's contrary to everything you've ever been taught but that above mentioned method proved true for me during the most fattening (and wonderful!) time of the year. Here's to corn dogs, sweet tea, green bean casserole, and Reese's Cups! And of course, long live Christmas Tree Cakes!

Switch it, Change it...

Remember Baby R with no certain name who was named L?

Well, make that Baby R with no certain name who was named L and then had it changed to C, and from here on out shall be referred to as "Bear."

Just in case you were wondering. Pics of the her later this week.

Little Miss K

Here she is!

Happy 2007!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great New Year's Celebration. We certainly did. Not only was it New Year's, but it was the one year anniversary of moving into our house! During the 2006 New Year we were asleep by 11pm because we'd been moving since 6am, but this year, we made up for it!

We had a fabulous celebration at the M Bed and Breakfast with some of our best friends. J made a drunken chicken (yum-o!!), I made twice baked potatoes, and seven layer candy (my grandmother's recipe!). We also had tons of other snack goodies, chips and dips, cookies, etc. On top of a variety of other drinks, we had Sparkling Festivas which was my own concoction of wine punch and it fabulous if I say so myself! We're so blessed to have such great friends and ringing in the New Year with them was simply wonderful!

So does anyone make New Year's Resolutions anymore? I know I didn't make any last year, and I'm not sure when was the last time I made them. I just couldn't think of anything last year and really haven't put any thought into doing it this year. (I did resolve to "quit smoking" one year which was super easy since I've never touched a cigarette in my life!) I know my friend Liz has quit the resolutions and now makes mission statements. Hmm, I'll need to inquire more on that one, the PR in me will love that. Perhaps I'll make goals for 2007. Maybe a 2007 to-do list since we all know how much I love to make lists. (Further proof found here, here, here, here, here,......). I've always considered making a "Life List" of all the things you'd like to do, accomplish, achieve, etc. during your lifetime. I feel like I should have done this years ago, but perhaps 2007 would be a good place to start.

What does everyone else do? Resolutions? Anti-resolutions? Missions Statements? Goals? Lists? Something else?

I see you lurking there....just click the little comment button and have some conversation.

My London, London Bridge

My London, London Bridge is going to be in for a shock when I revert back to normal living after the Epiphany.

My holiday lifestyle has included (but is not limited to):

• Not working a full week since November, meaning that by the time I actually work a full week, beginning Jan. 7, I'll have not worked a full week in (get this!) SEVEN weeks! I cleverly scheduled vacations with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years to come up with this schedule!
• Also, days I've been scheduled to work all day, I've been able to leave early!
• Eating Christmas Tree Cakes for breakfast every morning since Christmas. I recieved them as a gift from A! Luckily, I've still been (mostly) running regularly, but I do think my pants are getting a bit snug.
• My eating habits haven't been restricted to the above mentioned Christmas Tree Cakes. But with those for breakfast, leftovers (mostly of the sweet and sugar variety) for lunch, make it hard to finish the day. By dinner I can usually only handle cereal. But hey, that's good and healthy so perhaps it's balancing out the rest of me.

So when I actually have to work a full 8 hours a day, five days a week, and cannot have a Christmas Tree Cake for breakfast, I'm not sure what I'll do. On the bright side, I eat them with milk!

A Visit to See the Babies

Oh-they're-so-cute-I-just-can't-stand-it! Little Miss K is a spitting image of her dad! I usually don't think you can look at babies and immediately tell her they resemble, but in this case, there is no denying it! She is very feisty kicking around and picking her head up. She makes the funniest little faces too. J and I are taking dinner to her parents next week and I definitely cannot wait to see her again!

Baby R with no certain name now has a name! The middle name is still in the works, but L. seems very fitting for her. She's got a head full of soft blonde hair and is as sweet as can be! I can't wait to take J to see her. I hope there isn't any jealousy from his girlfriend and big sister of L, Girlfriend !

Pictures to come, really! Can you believe I forgot my camera? And no, I do not have a camera phone. I know, I'm so old school. I didn't even get a flip phone until camera phones are cool. I've been able to "upgrade" my phone since summer but haven't really cared enough to do so. However this incident makes me think it's time for a camera phone, although in the past I've been adamantly against them that they are ridiculous and just something else to break. I'll quit being an old lady and get a camera phone now.

And K Makes Three

This morning my baby cousin K made her rip-roaring entrance into the world at 6:30 am. She was a couple of weeks early, but at 8lbs 6oz, I'd say she was ready. Three babies in three days, WOW! I'm so excited to visit her this afternoon when I visit Baby R without a quite certain name. They are conveniently just down the hall from one another. Oh how I can't wait! Pictures soon, I promise! (CAN YOU BELIEVE I FORGOT MY CAMERA??? GRR!)

Little Miss Baby R With No Certain Name

My sweet friend Mrs. R had sweet little Baby R this afternoon. While things weren't as smoothly as they could have been, both mother and baby are doing fabulous now. She currently doesn't have a name although Elizabeth and Frosty the Snowman seem to be front runners. I simply cannot wait to go see her tomorrow on my lunch. Will I be able to hold out that long? Pictures to come soon!

Cookie Cuties

Remember when I said I was baking with the adorable children I love? Well, here is that all of that adorableness for your own very eyes! Aren't they just so cute they make your ovaries want to pop?

Hello Sj!

Little Miss SJ (grandaughter of the Rev's) was born this morning with a head full of hair! T3 and SJ are doing wonderfully and proud daddy Mr. T3 couldn't be happier. I love new babies! Praise the Lord that everyone I know keeps having them to keep me at bay for a few years.

Tomorrow will be the much anticipated arrival of Baby R. who doesn't quite have a definite name yet. Boyfriend says she is Elizabeth and Girlfriend says she is Frosty the Snowman, or Libby the Snowman!

Then, as if all of this isn't enough excitement, Baby K will be joining us in the beginning of January sometime. It's a Baby Bonanza in these parts.....don't drink the water!

Spent, Stuffed, Spoiled, and Southern

"It's Christmas! We're supposed to be miserable!" --satirical quote from T-Ho.

I hope you all had the wonderful Christmas that J and I did. We started off by going to his home church with is parents on Christmas Eve, followed by the full family gathering at his grandparents house. It was really nice complete with chicken n' dumplins' and the reading of the Christmas story. We all unwrapped gifts before leaving. We spent the night with is parents and did Christmas morning with his parents and brother, his sister couldn't be bothered by spending Christmas with her family. After lunch we packed up and headed to my family (the Rev's) for the afternoon, where we stayed until after dinner. There was, of course, a large crowd! We ripped into gifts, ate until we couldn't breathe, ate some more, and nearly had T3 to the hospital to bring us a baby! However, after her visit today, she is scheduled to have a C-section in the morning. I'm so excited! Little Miss Sj will be here tomorrow and I can see her this weekend!

J and I finally got home after 8 last night where we had our Christmas together, which was very nice. It was such a busy day, but I'm glad we had our Christmas together that night. I'm also glad that we are able to spread out and spend time with both our families and everyone we love. And the presents, oh the presents! We are truly blessed with a pile of wonderful gifts and fat pockets of cash and gift cards to go spend. (Cash...I find it odd, but it's his family's way. You get a gift and the remainder of your gift in cash, or you just get wrapped cash!)

J had today off, while I had to work. Boo! However, I can't really complain since I meticulously planned my vacation and managed to have long weekends for five weeks in a row! However, I did send J to Target this morning with a list of after Christmas goodies to purchase. Do I have a great hubby or what? I'm sure he spent the remainder of the day in his workshop with all of his new toys.

So Christmas 2006 is over. We're spent (not even looking at the bank statement after our Santa duties are over. I think I'll wait until 2007), stuffed (eat, eat until you can't breathe, eat some more, take the leftovers to repeat process!), spoiled (we've so much to be thankful for! We're so blessed beyond material items), and Southern (the best thing to be anytime of the year!)

Great Quote via My Granddad

My Pappy was diagnosed as a diabetic several years ago. He's stubborn (yes, it runs in the family!) and refused to take medicine insisting that he'd control his sugar levels with his diet. He did a fabulous job of it. Well, not long ago, his sugar levels spiked. It was nothing he did wrong, just progression of the diabetes. So Pappy basically had to cut out all of his carbs, which weren't many. He even (gasp!) cut out his drinking! I nearly fell over. My pappy loves a little orange juice with vodka or his evening whiskey on the rocks. Jack and Jim are his old pals! So at my disbelief of the absence of his night caps he pops out a great quote:

"Yeah, I guess I'm just on the mountain waiting to die, they've taken away my best habit!"

Hilarious! Only my Pappy could bust that one out!

Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry CHRISTMAS!!

I'm starting of Christmas by having a FIVE DAY WEEKEND, starting NOW! I have so much to look forward to including finishing touches on my Christmas goodies, baking cookies with the adorable children I love, a lunch with my girlfriends, time with my fabulous hubby, and then Christmas festivities. We'll spend Christmas Eve at his grandparents house, Christmas morning with his family, Christmas afternoon with my family, and then Christmas night at our house, all to ourselves! I'm excited to drag the day out like this and have special time with everyone. We did the gifting with each other last year on Christmas night as well and I really enjoyed it.

I hope you each have a very, Merry Christmas and find a great deal of joy in counting your blessings. Don't forget the real meaning of the season!

Seasons?

Where is winter? It's certainly not in East Tennessee. It's always been the joke that if you don't like the weather her, drive five miles or wait five minutes because it is bound to change. However, it seems that you won't find winter.

The weather has been uncharacteristically warm for December. It was colder in October than it as now, as if Autumn and Winter have switched places. I've only worn a winter coat about twice this year.

I used to think that I loved to live in a place with all seasons and that I like to enjoy all types of weather. However, I'm rather happy with this mild winter. It's not unbearable to be outside and is quite pleasant. I've not had to run indoors all year. J and I have been able to take nice walks downtown and do things outside. It's been fabulous.

That said, I'm sure winter will surprise me at any minute. Or perhaps it will last all spring. At any rate, I'm enjoying the lovely mild winter thus far.

Christmas Parties Galore

J and I have had Christmas Party overload this month. We've had four parties total during the past two weeks and the upcoming New Year's Extravaganza will be at our house.

Last weeks Junior League party was quite lovely. It was cocktail and hors' devours at a fabulous house on the river. There were several fireplaces, indoors and out, and Christmas trees in every room! It was fabulous. The food was good, the wine was better, and the conversation was splendid. I was able to meet a lot of new ladies whom I don't get a chance to talk with during the course of regular meetings and activities. I found a lot of women that I have so much in common with and that are in my same career. One of the girls I'd narrowly missed when I worked at the Art Museum.

The party was fabulous and I look forward to our spring cocktail party.

Saturday night was J's office party. I know, I know, a stuffy office party. But his office isn't like that at all. Get those people away from the office and it's loads of fun. His department is the money maker of the company so the party is quite swank. They rent out a very posh little bistro downtown for the evening. The party starts with cocktail hour and great hors' devours, the crab dip is scrumptious. Cocktail hour is followed by a sit down dinner with magnificent food. We're talking prime rib, roasted pork tenderloin, garlic mashed potatoes, corn casserole, green beans, asparagus with some yummy sauce, rolls, etc. Dinner is followed by yummy dessert. The VP speaks (keeps it short!) and then there is a gift exchange which turns out quite entertaining. At the end of the night, J made it home with Bacardi and Bailey's. YUM! I also quite enjoy his co-workers, so the company is nice.

I did realize from these parties that my sorority days are definitely over.* A couple of glasses of wine and I'm feeling fuzzy. I had two glasses of White Zinfandel during cocktail hour and knew I needed to sit down! The salad wouldn't do it so I took a plate of cheese and crackers to my seat to assist with my wine. (I can see it now. Did you see Mr. M's wife at the Christmas party? Yes, she was the one hanging from the chandelier!) Luckily the cheese and crackers helped and I was having cosmos at the end of the evening for late night drinks before we all went home. It was quite a fabulous evening. J and I enjoyed walking thru downtown and seeing it all lit up for Christmas. The weather was great for a leisurely stroll. It was a very romantic little scene.

*Of course after all of the excitement I spent Sunday in recovery! After a couple of hours I was able to make it for an afternoon run and work on some projects.

Graduation Celebration

Saturday was a very important and exciting day. Ta Ta Twin graduted!! I was thrilled that J and I were able to spend the day with her. We had lunch at a charming little Tea Room before going to her ceremony. The apron, by the way, did work out (finally.) However it (along with a Hello Kitty Planner and Stationary, you're never too old for Hello Kitty!) didn't hold a candle to the stunning 1 ct. diamond Eternity necklace her boyfriend gave her. Wow! She also got some gorgeous 1/2 ct. princess cut diamond stud earrings from her mom. I was blinded by all of her sparkle as she walked across the stage! I'm so proud of her. She deserves this so much. Now I just pray that she finds a great job, preferably near her boyfriend, which is coincidentally closer to me!
Here are some picture of that pretty pretty princess:

YEA!!!

Us being pretty!

Couldn't resist...look at that cute little thing I married!

**Still waiting on the picture of her and boyfriend.

DC Scrapbook

Remember when I went to DC, and then A added two important things? Well, here are the photos! (Does not include all of the normal monument, etc pics that you can google pics of!)


A. and I at the rotunda in the National Gallery.


The JL, Washington DC! I love my local JL.

We have too much fun in gift shops.



It's a jungle out there!

A. says she's now banned from the Smithsonian! But you know what, I can never miss a good opportunity to play pirates!

A. with some long lost relatives.

Isn't this an awesome picture. Yeah, I took that!


A. and I with the token pic i front of the Washington Monument. Yes, a little windy out there.

A. and I in front of the Tennessee Pillar at the WW2 Memorial.

Told you I'd take picture of pigeons! I couldn't find them on a park bench, but the curb works nicely. By the way, I did nearly take my quota of 300 pics.

The "other" SEC.

An absolutely gorgeous Autumn day in DC. This was taken near the National Mall.

Tis the Season For

CHRISTMAS TREE CAKES!

Oh how I love these wonderful things!

Tuesday Top Ten:Pie's Christmas Pictures Edt.

Our precious neice Pie! Yes, I know she tops the list of the cutest kids you've ever seen! Her Auntie La La and Uncle J aren't bad either!

1. Which ornaments should I choose?

2. Oooh, distracted by something shiny! This happens to Uncle J too, he's really my favorite!

3. Yeah, I'm too stinking cute!

4. Just decorating the tree, that's all.

5. Hey, I said I was just decorating!

6. See, sweet and innocent, decorating the tree.

7. Get this shot, it's my best side!

8. Look, I'm cooperating nicely, does Uncle J still have that popscicle?

9. Keep telling me how beautiful I am, and I'll keep smiling!










10. Wonder if they'll miss this shiny one....

11. And as an added bonus, check out the cute little family!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

It's the most wonderful time of the year and the M Bed and Breakfast is all ready for Christmas! Here are the long overdue picture!

The outside of the M. B&B

The Christmas Tree in the living room.

My most favorite Christmas decoration in ever! My dad hand cut and painted this Nativity Scene. Isn't it darling?

The Christmas Tree in the den. It's the blue and white tree, so pretty!

I just love Christmas decorations! We also have a couple of mini trees in the house, a wreath made to match the blue tree by Bex (I can't believe I didn't get a picture of that!), a couple more Nativity Scenes, and cutsy Christmas decor, candles, bowls of bulbs, etc. abounding! Oooh, and a poinsetta that I haven't killed yet!

Jingle Bells!

What the Pleat?

We all know I love to sew, paint, monogram, bead, etc and seem to continuously have a project going on. As if the scrapbook Christmas project weren't enough, I ventured onto something else last night. This time with the sewing machine.

So this is how it is: I can sew. I can sew rather well. But I basically only sew things that make sense to me. For example: I made a king sized duvet cover with matching shams and a bed skirt. All of that stuff made sense to me. I could visualize how to make it and just did it. I've never used a pattern or instructions. The same goes for cushions/covers for our sofas, window treatments, little purses and totes, and a little A-line baby dress.

My project this time was an apron. I'd bought a pattern quite some time ago with the intentions that I was going to learn to work off of patterns. I thought since I could visualize and do the apron on my own, it would be a good pattern to learn on because it would probably make since to me. Well, not so much! I'd got a cute little pleated apron pattern because I could already make the plain straight apron.

I got all of the materials out last night and was ready to tackle this project, which needs to be complete with cute monogram by Saturday for Ta Ta's graduation (she has been forbidden to read my blog this week in order to keep this secret! She's been asking me to make her a cute little apron for a long time so I thought it would be a great grad gift.)

I barely make if off of the number one on the instructions before giving up and deciding to see if the pictures help. I cut the fabric according to the pattern ( I think??) and was still stuck at number one. It started off with basting something. Basting? Don't you baste a turkey?

Quote of the night from my husband: "This is crap, they gave you the wrong instructions. You baste turkeys, not fabric!"

I also don't have bias tape and decide to use ribbon, until that idea annoys me and decide to use nothing. Who needs it?! Right?

I sew the pocket(s), and then sew the pocket to the bottom front panel and am ready to consult the directions again. Bad idea. It's time for pleats. The directions suck (remember....they wanted me to baste!) and I can't make the pleats make sense in my head. The only way I can think of doing it would cause it to be far to puckered and never lay flat, much less be more than 2 inches wide in the end.

It was 11:30, way past my bedtime, so I decided to call it quits for the evening. I should have just made the apron the way it was done in my head, sans pleats!

But then today......it clicked! I was going over and over in my head how pleated items could be made and still lie flat and not be super puckered up. After much contemplation, it finally clicked! I could visualize it and it made sense to me. I even understood why you clip the little zigzag between your seam allowance (because as you fold over each pleat they will match up and give you a flat hem!)

Ta Ta Twin better know how much I love her and what a good La La I am to go through all of this! I just hope it turns out too cute and she loves it.

Now, does anyone know what basting means? The best I can figure is the light stitching to hold fabric in place when working more intensively. But I'm still not sure why I needed to do that for this project. Of course, this project is only very loosely based on the pattern. Actually, the pattern is a gentle suggestion with a pretty picture on the front!

Family Shopping Day

Saturday was the Rev's Family Shopping Day. We start off with breakfast at 8 am, all thirteen (and one on the way) of us at the Cracker Barrel. Mom and Dad Rev, 5 daughters, 3 spouses, 3 grandchildren, bun in the oven, and I'm pretty sure there was a partridge in a pear tree. The day begins with loud and proud with breakfast followed by one hearty gang entrance to the mall, and hardcore shopping until lunch time. Since J and I rarely go to the mall without purpose, it was rather nice. I actually shopped around and browsed through stores that I don't often think to look in. The best part of all, of course, was being with the Rev's. We all reconvene for lunch to recharge our batteries and then venture out once again. And, Dad Rev pays for all the meals...score! J and I had such a great time, and were certainly tired by the time we got home. We woke up earlier for shopping day than we do any other day of the week, especially for him. However, it's nice to be tired for spending such a great day with family.

Can you break your pinky toe?

I think I've broken my pinky toe, is that possible? I stubbed it last night while flossing my teeth (which I don't enjoy, but do since my dentist tells me to) but it really wasn't a bad stub. It wasn't one of those I-think-i've ripped-my-toe-off stubs. It's was just an ouch-I-sure-am-clumsy stub. However it started hurting worse, and worse, and....

Finally I took my sock off and it was bleeding. Just barely, where I'd obviously stubbed it in that special spot where it jammed my toe nail, and no I do not have freakishly long toe nails, I just hit the special spot. So I put a band aid over it in case it continues to bleed so I can go to bed.

Well, the stubborn toe woke me up all night. It became very sore as the night went on and every time I'd move it would rub across the sheet and send me into excruciating pain. Ok, not that painful, but a really bad soreness that is annoying and wakes you up. Get it?

So this morning I attempt to take the band aid off which is quite a feat because it hurts to even touch. After several minutes I manipulated the band aid off of my toe and was shocked to see what was underneath.

My little tiny pinky toe is swollen to be freakishly as big as my thumb! And it's the reddish color of the purple-y color on bruises. It's a mutant toe now! So I have no idea what to do and just continue getting ready limping around like a gimp because of my aching sore pinky toe that I think is broken. I manage to find the widest shoes I own (Praise the Lord for casual Fridays!) so that it gives the most room to my aching pinky toe that is freakishly swollen to be as large as my thumb.

So, what do I do about this little issue? Is it broken? I'm thinking I should tape it to the other one so that it doesn't repair itself and grow sideways, but it's awfully swollen so perhaps that isn't the best idea just yet.

Any takers?

Laundry Fairy Part II

The Laundry Fairy strikes again! This time finishing off towels and sheets so that I can continue my project-that-never-ends! (And by the way, he hates doing towels and sheets because his darling wife is such a freak about it!) Yes, I have the greatest husband in the whole world. I know, I know!

Laundry Fairy

They laundry fairy (aka my fabulous husband!!) visited my house last night and folded my laundry that had been in the dryer for two days! It's been one of those weeks where I've nearly forgotten what the inside of my house looks like. I've been out late for the past several nights for a variety of things (JL Meeting, Dinner with a friend, Babysitting the too cute W and MP!) and hadn't gotten around to doing it. This is particularly sweet of him if you know anything about our laundry styles which has lead to new laundry rules.

What a sweet little thing he is! I'm actually going to be home tonight and plan on making him a fabulous dinner, perhaps even candlelight. And I just might give him a back rub.

But I still won't do his laundry!

Far to cold...

to run outside! Brrr, baby, brrrr!

Eye Witness

Yesterday I was an eye witness to a lady running a stop sign at an infamous location. Where was the stinky, smelly cop then, huh?

Bitter party of one here, that's me!

Why?

Why do people give you BS and expect that you will/do believe it. Seriously....why?

Tuesday Top Ten, Christmas Edition Vol III

I love Christmas Music. I have the Christmas stations programmed all over my car radio, XM, and cd's galore. All songs below exlude Harry Connick Jr. of which all songs are amazing and are not even comparable!

Top Ten Traditional Christmas Songs

1. Mary Did You Know*
2. O Holy Night
3. Emmanuel
4. O Come All Ye Faithful
5. Silent Night
6. The First Noel
7. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
8. What Child is This
9. Joy to the World
10. O Little Town of Bethlehem
11. Sweet Little Jesus Boy

(When have I ever been able to stop at ten?)

*Lyrics Below

Top Ten Festive Christmas Songs

1. Tennessee Christmas*
2. All I Want for Christmas Is You
3. Santa Baby
4. Winter Wonderland
5. Let it Snow
6. Sleighride
7. Mr. Grinch
8. White Christmas
9. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
10. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
11. Frosty the Snowman
12. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
13. Carol of the Bells
14. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
15. Happy Christmas
16. I'll Be Home for Christmas
17. It's Beginnning To Look a Lot Like Christmas
18. There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Fine, fine, I'll stop!

*Lyrics Below

Mary Did You Know

Mary did you know, that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary did you know, that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know, that your baby boy has come to make you new? This Child that you delivered, will soon deliver you! Mary did you know, that your baby boy will give sight to the blind man? Mary did you know, that your baby boy would calm a storm with His hand? Did you know, that your baby boy has walked where angels trod and when you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God? Oh, Mary did you know? Mary did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, The dead will live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak Praises of the Lamb. Mary did you know, that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know, that your baby boy will one day rule the nations? Did you know, that your baby boy was Heaven's perfect Lamb? And this sleeping Child you're holding is the Great I AM.

Tennessee Christmas

Come on, weather man, give us a forecast snowy white Can't you hear the prayers of every childlike heart tonight Rockies are calling, Denver snow falling Somebody said it's four feet deep But it doesn't matter, give me the laughter I'm gonna choose to keep.
Another tender Tennessee Christmas The only Christmas for me Where the love circles around us Like the gifts around our tree Well, I know there's more snow up in Colorado Than my roof will ever see But a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me.
Every now and then I get a wandering urge to see Maybe California, maybe Tinsel Town's for me There's a parade there, we'd have it made there Bring home a tan for New Year's Eve Sure sounds inviting, awfully exciting Still I think I'm gonna keep.
Another tender Tennessee Christmas The only Christmas for me Where the love circles around us Like the gifts around our tree Well, they say in L.A. it's a warm holiday It's the only place to be But a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me.

SAHM I Am?

I had Monday off of work. I wasn't sure where to even start with my day full of glorious time. I, of course, had a list of things I would accomplish and was ready to go bright and early. I even woke up and made coffee for my husband before he went to work.

However, my plans changed. An unexpected trip to the pharmacy and other errands popped up that ruined my morning of cleaning. (Yes, I know, weird party of one, I like to clean!) Onto my afternoon projects, I didn't accomplish nearly as much as I'd anticipated. An evening event came up that forced me to forego the remainder of my to do list.

Geesh! All that open time and I barely had anything to show for it.

However, I realized with days and days of that open window of time, I could really have something good going. I never thought I'd be a stay-at-home-mom, but I'm rethinking the whole thing. Sahm I am? Hmmm, not sure if it's for me, but I so enjoyed getting up and dressed with a full day of time ahead for me to conquer. Maybe I could be a stay-at-home-wife and go back to work when we have kids, I'm sure they'd get in the way of my productivity anyway. I suppose I should wait until my husband gets his MBA to pursue such an option since we do enjoy eating.

Another thing I learned on my day off is that I. Must. Learn. To. Calm. Down! and Relax! I'm a very uptight, rigid, type-A, control freak that always has an agenda. Although I didn't accomplish world peace yesterday (dang it!), I did accomplish errands and a big dent in a project I've been working on. Things that would have taken me all week otherwise. But at the end of the day, I was stressed out over all the things I didn't get done...and for what? There is not reason to be more stressed at home than at work! So, I think I'm feeling better about it.

What I'm not feeling better about is the mess on the dining table from the ongoing project I didn't finish and don't want to clean up until I finish. Howver being the aforementioned freak that I am...it's driving me crazy. I give it two days. If it's not finished in two days then the recipient will receive said project half finished from a frazzled gift-giver.

A One Act Play

Scene: The wee hours of Sunday morning in a full sized bed
Characters: Mrs. M and J

J: (huffing, puffing, and blowing the house down) You stole all the covers!
Mrs. M: No, you stole all the covers and I got me another blanket.
J: Then where are mine?
Mrs. M: I guess you threw them in the floor.

J ruffles around the floor, finds the duvet, and covers back up.

Mrs. M: I accept your apology!

Spent

I'm spent! J and I were out of town (again!) this weekend. We really enjoyed our trip, but it's a lot to do in one weekend when there is a five hour drive. However, we've just not found another way to get in all the friends and family in Southern WV.I did a photoshoot for the A. family Christmas cards and they turned out quite darling. I'll have to post pics. Little Miss Pie was a delight and had quite a love for my husband. I think his words to me were, "Don't be mad she likes me more than you."

We spent a great deal of time with family and enjoyed Sunday brunch and the birthday celebration. My family absolutely adores J and they showered us with Christmas gifts. It was totally unecessary, but so sweet of them to still buy me gifts, and now my husband as well. We didn't get home until bedtime Sunday night. Such. A. Long. Weekend!

How Could I Forget??

MY PILLOW! I've had my pillow for twenty-five years! I know, I know, that's sooo gross and Oprah says to change it yearly because it's full of blah, blah, blah. I can't part with my pillow. I've slept on it since I was a baby and had to be propped up for being so congested. It's went with me everywhere since. It's a wonderful semi-firm, semi-fluffy, ok probably just lumpy, king sized pillow that I can wrap around and rest my little head. It's so fabulous that most people try to steal it from me. J and Ta are the biggest culprits. I should post pics of my fabulous pillow.

Are you going to eat that?

My husband is a fabulous cook, and a growing boy. This week he made a scrumptious meal of mushroom bisque, pork tenderloin all seasoned and wrapped in bacon, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans. We were eating leftovers last night and I put down my piece of pork to chew (something he may be unfamiliar with). No sooner than I laid my fork down he nearly stabs me with his saying "Are you going to eat that?" I should expect this by now considering he'll always help me clean my plate.

Another great quote from my hubby regarding our trip this weekend:

"Cupcake--don't forget to pack your big girl bladder!"

He was on a roll last night. There were two more but I've forgotten them. Hopefully I'll remember soon. He deserves credit.

In The South

In the South we can manage to take any nutritious, wholesome, great for you foods and turn them into an fattening, sodium enriched, artery clogging (and tasty!!) casserole that will kill you. Prime examples: broccoli and green beans!

Long live the South!

Paper Bag....STAT!

Help! I think I'm hyperventilating! For the first (gasp!) time since admitting my (gasp!) age I had to (gasp!) fill out a form and (gasp!) realized that I had to (gasp!) move up a box in the age category. Oxygen anyone?

You better watch out, you better not cry...

You better not pout I'm telling you why.....

Visit Santa's Village type in your name and see if you're on the naughty or nice list this year!

Here's what Santa had to say about me:

Mrs. M
Much more nice than naughty. Can be very thoughtful. Has improved cleanliness, which I like. Could take better care of toys. Says "thank you" often, but still not as much as I would like. Good mood often spreads to others. Hopefully, will keep up the good work!

Tuesday Top Ten, Christmas Edition Vol II.

The Christmas List.

I'm at a total loss as to what I want for Christmas. Having just had a birthday where I received a plethora of fabulous gifts, I can't seem to come up with a Christmas List. I'm thankful for that because it means that I'm not in need of anything. However, I am curious to what everyone else has on their Christmas List. So for my Top Ten today I need help. Someone tell me what's on your Christmas List this year. Even your Top Ten would be great!