These are a few of my favorites

So the holiday season has killed the blogging. But now I'm on vacay (yay!) and have time for sharing with you all a few of my favorite pictures from this holiday season. There are a few I still need emailed to me (cough, cough, hint hint family members), but the ones below were mine so I can post them. Enjoy!

I seriously can't believe it, but we had a white Christmas in Texas! Now you would think my little lap dog wouldn't like bad weather, but he loves it. Rain, wind, and apparently snow too. So we had fun playing in the Texas snow.

He liked to rub his face in the snow. I know he's crazy, what can I say?

How he looked after the face rubbing. He's like the abominable snow pup!

The most hilarious Christmas lights I have ever seen. And this house is on a main corner in a nice neighborhood. I see it on my drive home every evening and this always gets me in the holiday spirit.

Eddie heads here as soon as the tree goes up. I don't know why, but this is where he hangs out at my Mom's during the holidays.

So I'm not saying he lives in Arkansas or anything (although we do have a booming retiree population, what better way to blend in?) but I drove behind him one day to work and I swear this man was him. Just look a the license plate. And a red truck? Who else could it be?

And to sum it all up my possible Christmas card for next year? Oh who am I kidding, I'll never be able to take the time to get actual pictures printed on cards for Christmas but here's to dreaming.

I hope you all liked the pics. I might have more to share later, but for now that's all. Later!

They call it Jerry world

Over Thanksgiving weekend my Baylor Bears played football against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the new Cowboys Stadium. I was super excited to get to see the stadium without shelling out tons of moola for a pro game ticket. And by the way, the Bears really didn't play too badly and everyone stayed until the end of the game, yipee! Below are the pics of the stadium they call Jerry World (for Jerry Jones the owner of the Cowboys and the one who has to foot the bill for this thing, for those of you who have been living under a rock this fall.)

The screen that has caused so much controversy (and a few kickoff issues.) This thing is unbelievably huge, even though we were close to the field I found myself watching this thing because you can see everything on it.

The field, and the Baylor Gold Wave Band getting ready to do an opening number.

One end of the stadium. These windows make it feel like you are outside even though you aren't. It is so cool.

Me and Dad (wearing his green and gold no less)

I really hope they make this game a Thanksgiving weekend tradition because it was a lot of fun. A crowd of over 71,000 doesn't hurt in convincing them to do it again either :). Until next time when I have updates on the long lost and now found vintage Minolta camera and my Christmas decor (I know you all cannot wait.)

Holiday Time!!

The Holiday season is fast approaching and I am itching to get out my Christmas decorations and deck my halls!

At Holiday House this year my Mom bought me a one of a kind, made by hand Santa and he is beautiful. I especially love the hanging lantern he has. He is already sitting out, I just couldn't bear to put him away.

In other news, when I went home to Texas to visit my family a few months ago I had come to the decision that I wanted to find my Mom's old Minolta camera to start taking pictures with it again. I hadn't played with it since high school and I was kind of feeling the urge to take manual focus 35mm pictures again. After several days of searching (and the finding of my great grandmother's coffee grinder that I decided was mine and would return to Arkansas with me) we couldn't find it. My Mom is a pack rat to the fullest so I was confused about where it could have gone to. We checked the garage, every closet, and I made her promise to have my cousin check the attic when he came over to mow the lawn. No sign of it. Imagine my surprise when she texted me a few days ago to tell me she had found it!! I am so thrilled. I just hope I can find a flash for it somewhere out there so I can have it ready for indoor Christmas pics. We'll have two new babies at Christmas this year and it will probably be one of our dear friend's last Christmas which is heart breaking to everyone. All the more reasons to take more pictures this year than ususal. I'm picking it up next week during Thanksgiving and I'll be brushing up my skills in the mean time. Prepare for lots of postings of my attempts at photography.

This is what the camera looks like, although I'm not sure if this image matches the exact make and model. It also has an awesome 70s retro-ish neck strap that I cannot wait to use.

Oh and by the way New Moon was everything we thought it would be and more. It is so refreshing when a director actually follows the book plotline rather than trying to put their own spin on it and changing things. We all even cried a few times. I know its crazy but what can I say, we love it. See ya'll later!

Big Sigh of Relief

I officially survived holiday house to take a 4 hour nap on Sunday. But it was all worth it, even the 6 hour merchant load out. Hey merchants, here's an idea at 5:00pm 1 hour before closing start selling things for 20, 30, even 50% off. Then we wouldn't have so much to load back up when it is time for you to leave. But now all of our community projects for the year will be covered which is why I'm giving myself a big pat on the back.

Now onto feeling relaxed for a change. I have an Arbonne party at my casa this week, needing a bit more volume to make it to District Manager which doesn't really mean anything but more money on my paycheck which I will gladly take. Shhh, don't tell but I'll be having a 50% off sale for Black Friday. If that doesn't get me to district I don't know what will.

And...big drumroll...the two movies I am the MOST excited about come out Friday. Those would be New Moon and The Blind Side. Seeing New Moon of course on opening night with the girls. Then I'm planning a viewing of The Blind Side with my mama when I'm home for Thanksgiving. And just in case you all have forgotten about what these movies are (as if you could) below are the previews for them. Enjoy, I know I will!

I Love Pumpkin

So I know this is probably an October-ish post for most, but I've been running a bit behind lately. Anyways, I love the taste of pumpkin. If not for the icky messy part I would carve a pumpkin every year for the seeds. And I really wish that fall wasn't the only time that pumpkin flavored/scented items came around. I would enjoy them all year round. What are those items you ask? Well there is...

*Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte-a must on a cool fall morning

*Pumpkin seeds

*Hershey's Pumpkin Kisses-I buy bags and bags of these so I'll have some even when they aren't selling them anymore

*Pumpkin pie

*Pumpkin scented Yankee candles-another thing I buy multiples of

*And best of all pumpkin bread

So in honor of my love for all things pumpkin and for my mom who is coming to visit me this week I made some pumpkin bread today. First time I had done this using the new mixer I received for my birthday. I can't believe how much the mixer cuts down on my prep time. One of my all time best birthday presents ever I think. Haven't tried the bread yet (it is still cooling) but I have a feeling it's going to be pretty delicious. And my bread pan looks like a pumpkin patch, what could be better? Off to try a piece, have a good one!

The infamous pumkin patch pan!

So I think the pumpkin patch look is there. Next time will be using the shortening to grease the pan like the cookbook told me too. Using Pam as a shortcut (and because I didn't have any shortening) may not have been my best idea. But at least it is still edible!

It's Holiday House Time!

The leaves are changing and it is time for something that I have been looking forward to for several months now: Junior League of Little Rock's Holiday House at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock!

Now as a member of the Holiday House comittee (logistics to be exact and I'm still not sure what that means) entrusted with making sure our event goes off without a hitch I am a bit biased, but I think this is the best holiday shopping opportunity of the year. The gifts are unique and they aren't the same old same old that you can find anywhere. Trust me, your mother does not want another candle and that sweater you gave grandma last year well she still hasn't worn it. Get them something fabulous at Holiday House and make their holiday!

And the best part about Holiday House is that all the proceeds from ticket sales, snack sales, auction items, and raffle ticket sales go directly towards all of our community projects that we do all year. Go to http://www.jllr.org/ to see more on all those wonderful projects that my fellow league members and I participate in (my personal favorite is GROW:Girl's Realizing the Opportunity Within).

There are many ways you can come and play at Holiday House

1. Preview Party- Wednesday November 11th from 6-10pm. Tickets cost $35 and that will get you first come shopping at all the booths, heavy appetizers, drinks, a wine cork pull, and live music by Crisis.

2. Private Shopping-Thursday November 12th 9am-12pm. Tickets cost $25 and that will get you shopping without the crowds, brunch, and coffee. One ticket sale from this event provides a backpack full of school supplies for a child particitpating in our Stuff the Bus program.

3. Ladies Night Out-Thursday November 12th 6-9pm. Tickets cost $25 and that will get you food from a Mexican buffet, 2 alcoholic drinks, access to the silent auction, and entry into the Jones and Son giant box raffle. Two ticket sales from this event provide one car seat for participants in our Buckle Up and Be Safe Program.

4. General Admission-Thursday November 12th 12-6pm; Friday November 13th 9am-9pm; Saturday November 14th 9am-6pm. One day tickets cost $7 or get a three day pass for $15.

5. Childrens Event-Saturday November 14th 9am-12pm. Tickets cost $5 and that will get you stories told by Mrs. Claus with cookies and milk and a viewing of the houses that have been entered in the Gingerbread House Competition.

So come on by and shop it up. You know that's where I'll be. And my mom is coming to visit and do some shopping too! You can be sure I'll be picking out some items that I can point out to her for what I want for Christmas! So the posting will be minimal this coming week. But hey what's new around here? Have a good one!

Sorry Guys

Man I have been really bad about posting lately. Sorry guys. Here's a little recap of what I've been doing these past few weeks.

1. Selling Arbonne like crazy. After two parties at my house and a weekend of parties in Dallas, I think I'm going to like this (and making money isn't too bad either). If only I didn't already have a full time job that required a lot out of me.

2. Trying over and over and over again to shake a sinus infection that will not go away. For three weeks now I have been trying to get rid of this thing, but being busy and sleep deprived means not being healthy. So the sore throats, snottiness, and loss of voice just keep coming. Oh well.

3. Office Depot shopping spree! I am a school supply addict and needing to updgrade my home office gave me the perfect reason to feed my addiciton. Seriously I couldn't be successful in my new venture without matching notebooks, binders, pencils, and pens.

4. Desperately hoping my Baylor Bears would pull past all the team injuries and pull out some much needed wins so we could go to a bowl game. Don't think it's going to happen this year, but keeping my fingers crossed anyways.

5. Counting down the days until November 20th. I already have my New Moon tickets purchased, of course. And the other movie I must see this fall The Blind Side, comes out that day too. Well clearly I've made my choice of which one I'm seeing that day, but there's always the next day to see the other one!

6. Downloading music like crazy. Paramore's new album, all the wonderful things Pandora chooses for me to listen to while I slave away at my JOB (my current fav is Joshua Radin), New Moon soundtrack (and don't judge here because the movies may be straight Velveeta cheese, but the soundtracks are awesome), Miranda Lambert's new album, I could go on and on. So with all my new music I'm loving I'll change up the tunes today for you all too!

7. Traveling. I drove to Dallas for a weekend, actually only a Saturday and Sunday and then I turned around and flew there the following Wednesday for work. Sometimes I feel like the universe is trying to point me back there, but for now I choose to ignore the signs. What can I say, I'm stubborn. I was also supposed to go to Cinncinatti last week to visit our stores there but the corporate plane was "broken," listening to the universe on that one trust me.

8. Slowing it down. I may not be listening to the universe telling my where to live, but I am listening when it tells me that being sick for three weeks in a row means I'm not making enough me time. So with that in mind today is for watching the Bears on TV play football (and wishing I was there in Waco), pedicures, more office supply shopping (as far as addictions go I don't think this one is too bad), and taking pictures of fall leaves because having seasons is one of the reasons I love living here. Maybe I'll even blog a bit more too. What I'm just saying it could happen. :)

PS I did not take this one, but it reminds me of Little Rock and the Arkansas River.

It's Getting Spooky

The beginning of October means one thing for me: time to break out the Halloween decorations. Last weekend I brought it all out and had a fun afternoon deciding where everything should go. I like to change it up every year, plus the new stuff (I have a slight addiction to themed decor) needs a place too. So here is the result of my efforts, now if only October were longer...

Love that this is a star, but also a Halloween decoration.

Look what popped up in my planter box!

Tiny little pumpkin on the outside table.

Creepy spider tea light holders (one of my favorite items by far)

Little ghost sign hanging on my kitchen window.

This candle is so cool when lit and the best part is the black part is removable so once the candle it can be replaced with a new one.

Cute little wire pumpkin and pear and a Happy Halloween sign on the door.

So I hoped you enjoyed my Halloween decorations.

I had my first Arbonne party and it went really well. Right now it seems like a lot of money is going out and none is coming in, but hopefully that will change soon. I have another party next week and then a weekend of parties in Dallas. Let's just say this month is really really busy, but I'm working towards a goal so its worth all of it.

Going to bed early tonight, the plumber comes early tomorrow to change my kitchen sink faucet. I'm very excited!

Random Maintenance

Blogger apparently hates me because the long post I just wrote was just returned to me as an error and everything is gone. Either that or it is telling me I talk to much. Going to try to rewrite it, ugghhhh.

I have been busy this weekend taking care of random things that I haven't done yet because I would rather use the money for shoes or makeup. But having guests over means they have to get done. So now they are. Here's what was on my honey do list this weekend:

Install a new toilet paper holder in my guest bathroom. The $2 Ikea on just wasn't cutting it. I think this one says "welcome to my home I think you are so great that I have this beautiful toilet paper holder just for you."

Install a matching towel ring to go with the toilet paper holder. Only the best for my guests!

Put in curtain hold backs because the light in the pool shines really bright and it kind of looks like the light from an alien ship coming in. So I had to put in some heavy curtains to get some sleep, except now it looks like I hate the sun. Enter curtain hold backs, they let in the nice sunlight from the french doors in the day and keep out the alien pool light at night. Much better

Figure out how to hang the placemats at Home Goods that go perfectly with my beach inspired bathroom. This project took me a few trys since they are cork on the back, but I finally figured it out. And now my placemats are wall art.

Complete my fall planting. I added some cute little mums and I think I needs something else, but I'm not sure what. Guess I'll leave that for next weekend.

In other news I am seriously considering attempting to sell Arbonne on the side. I received my products this week and I really like them. Also this company seems really into focusing on teamwork to promote and I like that. After some very unpleasant things happened at work this week I could use something new. Pretty much all the big decisions in my life have come from no where, like moving to Little Rock where I didn't know a soul to start a new job, and this also comes from no where. Three weeks ago I had no clue what Arbonne even was. So this may come to nothing, but it might be a great decision. Wish me luck!

Oops

Well I guess me flurry of posting has ended. But in my defense I have been very busy. Here's what I've been up to:

Two weeks ago I drove this path back and forth for Labor day weekend.

View Larger Map

Had some fun with the fam on the lake. This is me and my sister and my dog Eddie on our boat.

Then after I drove back to Little Rock on Monday, I turned around and had to drive back to Dallas for work on Wednesday. Whew! But had dinner at a cool place called Victor Tango. Definitely recommend it for those who are in to sharing items, it's that kind of place.

Then on Sunday I drove back to LR and since then I have been working my tail off at work.

I went to an Arbonne party Friday night, got roped into hosting my own Arbonne party, and for a moment considered giving it all up to sell Arbonne. I also spent way more money than I should have on things I couldn't even tell you about now, I am such a sucker.

So this weekend was spent getting my house presentable for company, and good thing I started early since this is more than just a one weekend project. On my list of things was getting a picture I took a while ago in Hawaii blown up to 18x24. Now I took this picture with a *gasp* regular non-digital camera. The kid at kinkos looked at me like he was shocked there was a time when those cameras existed. First time I've felt older than the person assisting me in the store. Weird! So I had to settle with an 8x10 version and am currently looking for another good beachy photo to hang with it. *Le Sigh.*

So on the schedule for next weekend? Planting my fall flowers in my flower beds, getting Eddie groomed (he is not normally a stinky dog, but he now has a smell even I can't bear), praying for Baylor to win their last non-conference game, trying to make my house look less fixer and more upper before people who are not my family or closest friends come over and judge it. Eeek.

Also considering doing that P90X intense workout thing. Serveral reasons why:
1. A girl at work will burn the 12, yes 12, discs for me so no need for those 3 payments of $39.95
2. I can do it at home so no one will see when I attempt one push up and collapse on the floor muscles quivering from exertion like someone twice my age. The people on the TV did push jumps, there is no way what they were doing were normal push ups. Oh my.
3. I am the aforementioned sucker and seeing the infomercial today made me totally hooked. (If I was didn't have to work a day, could do whatever I wanted to rich I would buy stuff from infomercials all the time. It all looks so awesome)
So I will let all of you know how it goes. I have to buy the 12 discs for burning. I also have to buy weights (is 1lb acceptable to start with, because somedays even my handbag feels too heavy for me), resistance bands, and a pull up bar. The last item on my shopping list worries me. Pull up bar? I don't even know where to hang one of those???

So wish me good luck, looks like in the next few weeks I'm going to need it. Later

I Wish

Full disclosure I was not one of these kids in high school, but man I am pretty sure I am going to be obsessed with this show. Two clips, one with actual movement and one with just (AMAZING) singing. Don't mind me, I'll be over there in front of the mirror singing into my hairbrush and pretending I actually have a good voice.






Will be heading to the lake on Friday. No cell service, no internet, no stress! Have very good intentions of taking pictures this time since I forgot to do it over the 4th of July. Hopefully that will work out. And Baylor plays their first football game of the season on television!! Can't wait to watch. Have a great and safe labor day weekend everyone! Later!

Insane

So the link below will take you to the most amazing before and after pictures, even HGTV can't beat this. Maybe when these people are done with their house they can come and do mine?? Maybe??

http://theoldpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/2009/08/cottage8-before-after-reveal.html


Because instead of touching up paint and replacing faucets like a good little homeowner I surf the net (and say surf the net, gross what am I an early 90's sitcom dad?) finding pics like this for your enjoyment.

Ok, so enough time wasting. I am going to go and take measurements of all things in my home that must change/go away and write them all down in the little notebook that lives in my purse so I will always have them when I need them. I'm even a little impressed with myself on that one. Eat your heart out HGTV! Later.

Guess Who?

Ok so these are the two trailers that I can't watch without crying right now. Can't wait till these movies come out. Oh and aren't you all so impressed with the often-ness of my posting? I know, I know it is amazing.





So are you guys as excited about these movies as I am? I sure hope so. Later!

Outdooor Chairs are here!!

Woah look at me posting so often now, I bet you readers (are there even any of you out there?) can't believe it.

Outdoor chairs were delivered Friday. Made the delivery guys very happy because all they had to do was carry them and place them on the patio. As they walked away I heard one say "this will be the easiest job we have all day." No problem guys, I do what I can to help.

Love love love my chairs. They are so comfortable and cute. My Dad came in for an impromptu visit and immediately said "well you won't want to hear this, but you should chain those." Seriously Dad! So clearly not chaining them (what the heck would I chain them too anyways?) but I am enjoying them.

Eddie and I sat outside this evening and enjoyed a glass a sweet tea (well I drank the tea, Eddie had water) and read a magazine. It was perfect! So enough talking, here are the pics. Hope you like them!

If any of you are in Arkansas come on over and sit for a spell. I promise you'll enjoy it. Later