helping me with my new years goals...

I'm so very thankful for all the birthday celebrations I had with all of my different families. We enjoyed a Hibachi dinner with dad's side, Chinese and strawberry shortcake with mom's side and dessert with the in-laws.

Thank you for making me feel special!

I was super excited to give my brother a drawing of a picture that mom took of his puppy laying on his cowboy boot. He loved it and I so enjoyed making it for him. I am by no means an artist, but love to draw! Those were always my favorite classes to take in college. I've only taken still life drawing classes and definitely find drawing living things very challenging. I looked everywhere for my drawing pencils and couldn't find them anywhere, so a regular pencil had to do. {I've since then been given money to invest in some new pencils!}




of course I had to modify it a little to my drawing abilities, but still pretty proud of it! {ps it looks better in person than in the picture. I feel like I'm displaying kindergarten work haha}


I think he appreciated it:)



I was also very excited about one of my gifts. It should help me keep one of my new years goals! Mom gave me a Sony reader!! And Matt gave me a gift card towards books!



Let me start off by saying that I will continue to frequent book stores and of course, buy books! There's just something about the experience that I cannot give up! Plus, I want to continue to support them and keep them in business.

I do love my reader! I finished my first book of the year and picked up my reader for the first time yesterday to start book number 2, The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks {one of my all time fav authors}

It's super easy to use and can store 19492551936 books. Not really, but it does hold a lot! Mine came with a book-type case that makes it feel like I'm holding a book. I definitely recommend it:). Just as long as you too, vow to keep supporting the good ole book stores!!

Now off to my reader while I wait for the hubs to finish a meeting. Then, it's off to the gym for the first time this year!

better than presents...

Are unsure of what to get loved one's for Christmas this year. Or maybe your family has decided instead of buying gifts, you would give to a good cause or help someone else out in some way or another. You might even do a combination of the two...

Here are a few places where you can give to someone else. Whether it's feeding the hungry, helping sick children receive new hearts, sponsoring a child in need or helping young girls get out of the sex trade industry, your donations will enrich the life of another person. Here are just a few of the many, many organizations that need your help...

PLC Preemptive Love Coalition is an organization who's mission is to help fund heart surgeries for Arab and Kurdish children who would otherwise die. You can donate money, buy tees or even handmade klash shoes to help give these kids a healthy heart~

Love146 is an organization that is working to end child sex slavery and restore it's victims, giving them hope for a positive future. Whether you choose to donate money, send an e-card, or even buy someone a t-shirt, all profits are helping Love146's mission in ending child sex slavery.

Compassion International for $38 a month you can sponsor a child that provides them with food and clean water, doctors visits and medicine, education and the chance to hear and learn about Jesus! You can even buy Compassion items if you can't sponsor a child at the moment. They even give you opportunities to go visit your child. They are actually on a trip to El Salvador right now. I wish funds would have been in place for us to go this year to visit our Roberto, but hopefully the next go around we will be able to!

Three of the many that could use you help and your prayers. Even if you can't donate or sponsor, your prayers and your help spreading the word about these organizations will be so appreciated!

a giveaway

Natalie at The Pettijohn's is hosting a giveaway! If you have a baby, or will have one someday, check it out!

These precious hats are handmade by a friend of ours and there are several options to choose from. My favorite just happens to be this sweet pumpkin head, baby too! Isn't he just precious?!?!

Go on, you know you want to win one:)

If you don't win you can purchase one here!!

Supercalifragilisticexpalidicious

Mom and I went to see Mary Poppins at Fair Park on Friday night. I heart musicals (something that my husband sadly doesn't share with me)and this is one of our favorites growing up. While there were some differences from the movie, the show was AWESOME!! One my very favorite scenes is the "Step in Time" sequence. Movie and Musical. I wish I could be up there singing and dancing. Okay, I don't sing but I would love to be up there dancing!!

If Mary Poppins comes to your city, go see it!! Such a fun, entertaining show! Just remember it won't be exactly like the movie, but I think it's as close as it can get!

Any Broadway shows that you recommend?? I've seen Lion King and I really want to see Wicked when it comes back to town. I reallllly wish they would put on Newsies!!!!

sweet surprise!!

I came home Friday night after the concert to find that my wonderful husband shampooed all of our carpets!! It's such a tedious process and moving everything out of the rooms is a pain, but my hub did it all by himself and I soooo appreciate it!!

cool find...

After talking about how I want to shed some lbs, my friend told me about this cool website. It's a way to track all kinds of activity, plug in your weight, height and age, tell how much you'd like to shed and it will calculate how many calories a day you should consume. I have only spent a little time on the site, but I already love it and started recording everything today! There are restaurants and all kinds of products you can search for and click on for what you ate. There is so much more to the site that I am looking at as I type this. I can't wait to see what all it has to offer. I'm sure you recognize the saying "LiveStrong." Check out the link, I know you won't be disappointed! I'm not:)

There's also an app for it (2.99)

one month...

This time next month we'll be on our way to PA and NYC to see the Pettijohn's and the Rose's!!!! We are so excited we can hardly stand it!

nothing better than homemade...

Last night we went to dinner with my mom and brother. After our yummy meal at one of my favorites, Olive Garden, we headed back to her house for some homemade lemon ice cream.We used to have it every summer growing up and it's probably been a good 6 years since I have had it. Tasted just as good as I remember! My grandparents gave us an ice cream freezer for Christmas in 2007 and we have yet to use it. I think I'll make some this weekend!

recipe will soon follow!

FREE reads?!

I found this thru Fantabulously Frugal! She is a 20-something who posts about deals, steals and giveaways. If you haven't checked out her site, you definitely should. She has posted about some awesome deals!

Random House is giving away a few new books, while supplies last, as a "read it forward" effort. They are hoping that you would request a copy of a book, read it, then pass it along to someone else to read. You can only have one entry per email address. I just signed Ricardo and I up and hopefully our books will be here soon. I don't think he will read them, but I sure will!

How neat is that?!

Click here for your FREE book!

freeee...

today is a great day! I saw on a commercial last night that Sonic is giving away FREE ROOT BEER FLOATS!! from 8-12 tonight!!!

They did this 2 years ago and I recommend you go closer to 8. We were there at 8 and by 9 it was packed.

It's funny, on Sunday I was talking about how much I wanted a float. It's been forever and it just sounded so good.

Now I get one!!

We'll be at Sonic at 7:55 for ours =)

ahhhh...

My bosses took me out for lunch today at work to a lovely little cafe in the Square. For those that don't know, I manage a little boutique in Southlake called The Impeccable Pig. I have been there for a little over a year and was so happy to hear that they are giving me a RAISE!! YAY!!!!



It definitely helps and I am so grateful for it! It's always encouraging to hear that you are appreciated and also, that customers appreciate you as well! It was a GREAT day today!



Tomorrow after my doctor's appointment, I plan on going house hunting with my mom and a maybe even treat myself to a single item of my choosing! {nothing too expensive, but maybe a pair of shorts or shoes or something for the house}

Oh Happy Day!

excitingly beautiful...

We never registered for pots and pans because Hubs had some before we got married. They have taken quite the beating and are wearing out. They are the non-stick surface so now that they are starting to chip, we really needed to get new ones. Hub's mom saw this great set and knew we were going to need some sooner or later, so we got an early Christmas present. We got a wonderful set of 18 pieces an I can't wait to use them! They are out of the box and now just need to be cleaned.

Thanks to our Neaves parents for this great gift!!

Need to check her out!

A couple of weekends ago, we went to House Of Blues to here the beautiful Jillian Edwards open up for Sleeperstar. She did awesome! The girl is going to be big one day, just you wait and see. I have known this sweet girl since she was in diapers and seeing her up on stage, in her element, was incredible. I felt like a proud mom taking pictures and videos of her songs! We bought her CD and I even got her to autograph it for me. If you haven't heard her, you should!

Little clips of hers songs at HOB

would love...

a Body Bugg! I know I won't get one, they are $199 at 24 hour with the coupon, but it would be a cool thing to have. You have to subscribe to a web program and it tracks your calorie intake and how many calories you have burned. It also gives you targets for each.

It would be neat to have one of these bad boys, but I think I'll have to live without one!

makes it easier...

The new 24 hour right down the street opened up last Friday. It takes about 2 minutes to get to this new one vs 23 minutes to the Southlake gym. We went for the first time last night! Their machines are a lot different, nice but different. My favorite,the elliptical, has these....

Yep! Personal TVs! They even have ports to plug in your phone or ipod to play the movies you've downloaded. Pretty great. It makes it a lot easier to get thru your workout when you can pass the time watching tv!

Ft. Worth Art...

Friday night we headed down to Ft. Worth to see one of the top 8 art festivals. I love to paint and draw so these events are always so much fun for me! We went a little later than we should have, some of the vendors had started to shut down their booths. I did find a few that I absolutely loved and can't believe their talent.




Roderick E. Stevens from Arizona has a way of making his paintings look so real and life like. AMAZING!

JD Hillberry was probably my favorite. He draws with charcoal and pencils and his works are so detailed; everything in the frames...drawn. From the background that looked like wood, to what looked like masking tape...INCREDIBLE! This kind of talent blows my mind!

JD Hillberry says this about this drawing:

"Putting It Together"
"My two-year old son was the inspiration and model for this drawing. At this age, he was just beginning to learn about himself and what the world has to offer. I believe that this self-exploration and development continues throughout our lives in our quest to make ourselves whole. When we keep our minds open to new experiences, we are continually "putting it together".

isn't he amazing?? He offers a summer workshop that I would love to participate in one year. It's sold out fr 2009 but maybe 2010 or 2011?? We'll see. My dear friend Katy is an amazing artist. She has done some awesome work of her own. Katy, I think you and I should go together. It's in our favorite state of CO!!

Actually, the price for the 3-day workshop is very reasonable. It's $320 for 3 days, from 9-4pm. It includes all kinds of supplies as well! I might just have to whip my drawing stuff out from college and play around! He inspires me!

sleep sound...

Lately, Hubs hasn't been sleeping very well. It takes him forever to fall asleep and then he tosses and turns all night. I also have problem tossing and turning and waking up feeling exhausted. We decided to try out this Aromatherapy roll on from Bath and Body Works.

"Studies have shown Lavender essential oil fosters restful sleep while Chamomile essential oil soothes and calms to encourage better quality sleep."

I've tried it once, and it might be all in my head, but I think we both got a better nights rest. Whatever works right?!

I've also tried out the one for headaches and I do think this stuff works. I get headaches often and don't always want to take medication. You roll the headache version on your temples or neck and I'm telling you, I think these really do help!

Right now B&Bworks has them on sale for $5 each! Normally they are $10 each. That's pretty pricey!

Let me know if you have tried them or if you end up trying them out! They also have a stress relief, energy boost, etc...

more elephant pics

Hubs emailed me more pictures of the elephant he got to work with on the commercial today... Some of them are awesome!!

It was playing with him. Pushing and pulling him towards him!!

whoa!

I had to wake Hubs up at 5 this morning. That's really early for us! He is shooting a Lottery commercial today and this is what he gets to shoot it with...

How come don't get to work with an elephant!?

beautiful...

Today is a beautiful day! For many reasons, really!


Today, I had my last Lupron injection!! YAY! Now we just need to figure out what direction to go from here. For those who don't know, I have been diagnosed with Endometriosis and had surgery last September. After my surgery, the doc thought it was best for me to have this series of 6 monthly injections to put my "female system" on hold (basically thru menopause) since we weren't ready to try to get pregnant. I go back next month for a follow-up and tell my doc if we are ready to start trying or not. As of now, we aren't. This means more hormones/birth control again until we decide we are ready.

Another reason I love today, besides the beautiful weather... I had a coupon from Old Navy for 50% off one item (i printed off two and went in twice). I got one pair of green bermudas for $10 and a cute pair of flats for $7.50. YAY!!

I also decided it was time to get a plant for our back porch. I bought I baby jalapeno plant, soil and a pretty pot (on sale from $35 to $15!!) from Home Depot. Hopefully we will grow some yummy jalapenos! I also bought a smaller pot that I plan on painting along with some begonia's to put in it!


Here are my lovely purchases!!

Stay tuned for a cute idea for easter place cards...