Rewind…

My life has been crazy, hectic, and busy, with a few mellow days in between.  I’ve not had a chance to blog at work because I’m actually WORKING.  I know – amazing concept! =.)  Real estate seems to have finally picked up.  I hope it stays this way! =.)

So, here’s a little rewind of my life for the past month.

A month ago, I was in New Orleans for a convention for my company.  I got to fly down, stay at a nice hotel with pretty much everything, save a little souvenir spending, paid for.  It was great.  It’s my first time to NOLA.  What an experience!  It was the weekend following Mardi Gras, so there were still some crazies down there.  And it was right after their big Super Bowl win, so I think they had been partying constantly.

My hotel room

View from my balcony Some of my favorite sights from New Orleans

Seriously?  Beads EVERYWHERE!A river boat River Cable CarSt. Charles Avenue Cable CarRobert Lee Memorial Spent some time in the WWII Museum  And my favorite find? Isn’t it great?!? =.) I love it!

Neat story – one of the owners of my company knows somebody who is business partners with the owner of a major hotel in New Orleans.  The hotel owner, let’s call him Mr. Big.  Mr. Big lives in the penthouse (of which it’s named after him, and you need a penthouse key to even get to the penthouse floor) of said hotel.  It has a view of Bourbon Street, Canal Street, and everywhere east and west.  Half of the penthouse is his patio, which has a hot tub overlooking Bourbon Street!!  He had a private party, and everyone who was in NOLA from my office was invited.  Seriously?  Coolest party ever.  There were musicians playing quietly while everyone mingled and munched. It was a bit chilly, but the rooftop view was just amazing.  So gorgeous to see the city from above all lit up.

This is Canal Street Opposite of Canal Street, towards Mississippi 

And I have pics of his actual patio, but that might be a bit too private to post.  So cool, though! I had already left, but apparently, Gr*mmy winner E*rving M*ayfield showed up to play some before they all headed to his club off of Bourbon Street.

And now, the most jaw-dropping part of the evening?  We’re all just standing around chatting and meeting people, when out comes Mr. Big’s pet…KANGAROO!  Really, a kangaroo!  With Saints colored beads on!! =.) So cool! =.)

That’s pretty much my whole trip to NOLA.  I didn’t go to Bourbon Street at night…just not my scene.  We had lunch down there one day, but it was on the end of Bourbon close to Canal Street, so I still don’t think I “experienced” Bourbon Street.  I don’t think I’m missing anything.  Just my opinion, though. =.)

********************

The weekend after I returned from New Orleans, I spent some time at my brother’s house.  He put up this huge rope swing for Allie, my niece.  She wanted to show us how high she could swing.  It’s crazy, but TONS of fun.

**I took the pictures to make it look like she was swinging super high.  She was high, but not as high as it might appear.  I promise!**

She loves her swing! =.) And Ava – she’s just a cheese ball!  Every time I pointed my camera at her, she would grin…she’s such a mess! =.)She didn’t want to be left out! =.)

********************

This past weekend, we headed down to Beaufort for a relaxing weekend with Chad and Katie.  We had a GREAT time!  Thanks for letting us tag along, y’all! =.)

We didn’t get down there until around 10:30 pm on Friday night.  We slept in a little, then had some errands to run for Chad.  We spent Saturday afternoon with Brad’s parents, who were down there, as well.  Please continue to keep his family and friends in your prayers.

Brad’s niece, Maddie, was loving on some Marc.  She was so cute!  She would just snuggle up to him on the couch.  He was eating it up, too!  She’s been really clingy to all of Brad’s friends.  She’s only 5 years old, and if it’s hard on us at 26, I can’t imagine what it’s like for her.

We headed back to the house to hang out and watched some ACC basketball.  We might have napped just a little! =.) Then we headed over to Johnny & Jan’s condo and played Just Dance for the Wii all night.  It was so much fun!  Makes me want the game!  But really, I think I just want it so I can practice, because Katie and me were awesome!  We are so going to beat Jan and Jessica next time!! =.) Haha!

Just Dance makes for some awesome action shots!! Chad & Katie Marc and I (don’t you love the audience?)  Brian & Chad (to Eye of the Tiger)Serious air guitar Cooling off on the balcony  Katie & I =.)

On Sunday, Katie took me down to Front Street so I could explore a little.  I’d never been before.  And I finally got me a pair of Croakies – they’re pink! =.)

I love all of the old houses…I love the sailboats on the gate! Low tide I could so live there! I miss it already! =.)

If you made it through all of the pictures, thanks for reading! =.) Have a great evening! =.)

ABCs of Me =.)

ABC's of Me!!

Age: 26
Bed Size: King – love it!
Chore you hate: All of them? No – I really hate cleaning toilets. 
Dogs’ names: Paisley & Ace 
Essential “start the day” item: Caffeine Free Mt. Dew =.) 
Favorite color: Blue
Gold or Silver: Both! =.) Most everything I own is White Gold or silver, though
Height: 5'8
Instruments you play: Absolutely none!
Job Title: Market Center Administrator (or a bookkeeper)
Kids: 2 pups for now
Living Arrangements: a home in our hometown
Mom’s Name: Cathy
Nickname: Britt
Overnight hospital stays: None
Pet peeve: Bad drivers, close talkers
Quote from a movie: Nobody puts Baby in a corner. Love me some Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing! =.)
Righty of Lefty: Righty
Siblings: 1 older brother
Time you wake up: About 6:15
Underwear: Yes?
Veggie you dislike: Okra –ick!
Ways that make you late: Slow drivers on country roads & thinking I have more time to get ready than I really do
X-rays you have had: Dental
Yummy food you make: Broccoli Casserole
Zoo animals you like: Giraffes and Polar Bears, and penguins =.)

Stay tuned for your (un)regularly scheduled programming! =.)

Hope your Monday is going great! Have a spectacular day! =.)

Still doesn’t seem real…

Something awful has happened.  We lost one of our friends.  That was Tuesday, March 2, 2010.  We lost our friend Brad at the age of 26.  His birthday is tomorrow, March 12th.

He died while doing tree trimming work.

You see, Brad was a firefighter.  On his days off, he and several other firemen worked for a tree trimming company.  On Tuesday, Brad was working, and fell from a tree.

He didn’t survive.

On Thursday, a ton of people turned out for his visitation at the funeral home.  The firemen were lining the hall leading to the family.  They show so much respect for their fallen.  They had their fire truck in front of the funeral home for the service.  There was a huge flag hanging from the raised ladder.  It was absolutely beautiful.  The fire station even had this banner made with Brad in all of his fire gear, In loving memory.

The funeral was Friday.  Gosh, Brad was loved.  He was loved so, so much.  The church was completely packed with all of his family and friends, and his fire family.  The service was just wonderful.  The preacher spoke a little, then the fire chaplain spoke.  After that, they opened it up to friends who wanted to say something about Brad.  His superiors and co-workers got up and talked about Brad and his work ethic.  How he was just great at being a fireman, and how he loved it.  Everyone told great stories.  We laughed and we cried.

The firemen all lined up again as Brad was taken out for his final ride.  All of the city fire trucks led the way.  It was all so touching.

At the graveside, they gave him a fireman’s burial, and a Mason’s burial.

It’s just so hard to watch his family and friends going through all of this heartache.

With all of this happening last week, it’s made me realize how God hasn’t promised us tomorrow.

So, live each day to the fullest.

Make sure everyone knows you love them.

Don’t take friends and family for granted.

Thank God for the blessings He has given you in this temporary life.

Make your life MEAN something…even if it just means you’re a great mom, sister, brother, son, father, daughter, grandmother, grandfather.

Don’t let a day go by where you regret your decisions.

Take advantage of your life, your love.

 

And for Brad:

“The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.”

Friday! Friday!

Hi, everyone!  I’m sorry for the long time between posts, but I’ve been out of town!

I think last week I mentioned that I was going out of town for work.  I’ve been in New Orleans for a real estate convention.  Love my company!  It was a lot of fun, and I got to see New Orleans for the first time.  I so wish that I’d had a little more time to enjoy the city, though, with a little less class! =.) Either way, I had some great experiences, one of which involves a kangaroo.  Yep, that’s right.  You did read that correctly.  I got to see a real, live, PET kangaroo.  So cute!!  I’ll have more details on my trip later.  For now, I’m participating in Fill in the Blank Friday over at The Little Things We Do.

So, here goes…

1.  When I’m nervous: I get out of breath, like I’ve been running a lot (which I never run), and sweaty palms. 

2.  My favorite item in my closet is: my newest WCG t-shirt.  It’s super comfy, it’s heather red, and it supports the fam.  Can’t go wrong with that!  When I dress in business casual for work every day, the last thing I want to wear outside of work is something trendy.  I’m definitely all about the comfort!!

3.  Zoning out with a great book or catching up on my TV shows is my favorite thing to do when I need to relax.

4.  My favorite childhood memory is: Spending time with my Mama’s family at Emerald Isle.  My great-grandmother had a cottage with a small guest cottage behind on the road to Bogue Pier.  I remember going down there every summer with all of my aunts and uncles and my grandma, and we’d spend the week together.  I remember having to evacuate because of hurricanes, yummy ice cream at the Dairy Queen, unique gifts from the gift shop next door, learning how to shuffle cards on the days it rained, sandspurs from the grass outside, and sharing 2 bathrooms with 10 people.  I miss those days!! =.)

5.  Something you may not know about me is: I’ve been with Marc for almost 10 years!  We started dating my senior year in high school, his sophomore year. I know – he was a baby!! (and that also tells you how old I am!!)

6.  A true friend: Knows when to talk, when to listen, and when to laugh with you.  They’re honest and comforting. And they’re rare.  So glad that I have some true friends! They’re lifesavers!

7.  Something I hope people think of when they think of me is: That I’m a true friend.  I’m trustworthy and kind, loving and fun.

Yay!  That was fun!  I got a post out, and I didn’t really have to be creative!  Someone else did that for me! =.)

Have a great weekend!  Can’t wait to get some of my pics from NOLA up this weekend! =.)

Such a bad blogger…

I don’t know why y’all still follow me, unless it’s the fact that I’m not gonna fill up your Reader! =.)

But I’ve been in a funk.  I’ve got nothing interesting to blog about.

My weekends are almost always the same.  Dinner with friends on Friday.  Hanging out with friends on Saturday.  Church on Sunday.  That’s my wrap up!

And while we aren’t getting near the amount of snow as some of the states north of us, we’re still getting a little bit.  It’s been nice.  I know – don’t get mad at me for saying that!  We don’t get a lot of snow, and it’s so pretty when we do! =.)

It snowed this past Friday.  And it was all melted by lunch on Saturday.  Perfect snow!  And we got almost 2 inches overnight.

I have 2 favorite things from the past two weekends:

1.  Dear John.  I saw it with Tiffany, Kelli, Katie, and KT.  I really, really liked it.  I read the book way back when it was first published, so it’s been awhile.  As I was watching the movie, bits and pieces kept coming back to me.  I loved the movie, though.  And I knew I would cry.  I cry at everything Nicholas Sparks.  But it wasn’t about the love story side of it.  It was all the scenes with John’s dad.  So precious!

2. Game Nights.  Last weekend, we played games with 2 other couples on Saturday night.  We finally played Pictionary Man, and then we played Cranium.  Needless to say, the girls won. =.)  We’re awesome! =.)  Then, this past weekend, while we were all together to celebrate February birthdays, we played Imagine Iff and Cranium, just the girls.  So.much.fun.  I absolutely LOVE board games!! =.)

Perhaps I’ll have some exciting things to post about this weekend.  I leave Friday for New Orleans for work.  I fly back up Tuesday night.  That means I’m leaving Marc at home by himself.  I think he’ll survive.  I imagine he’ll enjoy being able to play Call of Duty without me interrupting when I get home from work.  (Seriously, I’m close to hating that game)

And that’s all I have.  Told you I sucked as a blogger! =.)  Guess I’m just in a funk.  I bet if I had more Vitamin D (i.e. more sun), I’d be more interesting! =.)  I love my snow, but I’m ready for spring! =.)

Have a wonderful week! =.)

And I leave you with this awesome quote I found! =.)

“Your life is your garden, your thoughts are the seeds.  If your life isn’t awesome, you’ve been watering the weeds.”

–Terry Prince

Walking in a Winter Wonderland…

In my part of North Carolina, it’s rare that we see substantial snow.  And by substantial, I mean more than a few inches.  You see, when we get more than an inch, cities shut down.  Our area just isn’t prepared for snowfall.

Which is absolutely GREAT if you’re a kid, because all you want to do is play in the snow.  And you definitely don’t want to go to school if there’s snow on the ground.

However, if you’re a teacher, you understand that snow days = less Spring Break.  Kids don’t think about that part of it, though. =.) And who could blame them?!? =.)

The weather people were forecasting anywhere between 4-10 inches at my home.  Depending on where the lines were, it could be a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain. 

So, on Friday around 6:00 pm, it started snowing.  It was gorgeous!  Lovely, beautiful flakes of the white stuff.  I absolutely loved it.

People in my office…not so much.  You would think that the world were ending with just the prediction of snow.  I went to Appalachian State University.  That means that I had the potential to see snow from November through May.  Since I’ve graduated and moved back home almost 5 years ago (has it really been that long?), I’ve only had 3 snows worth counting.  One this past weekend, one last year, and I’m sure there was another one before that.

Needless to say, I don’t mind the snow. =.)

And I got some pictures of the house before the dogs and trucks ‘messed’ it up. =.)

The snow was still falling… Isn’t it just beautiful and clean looking?!? =.)

We decided to go sledding, so some of our friends came over.  A few miles from the house is a road with a massive hill.  Perfect for sledding! =.)

Here’s the girls: Sarah, Katie, me The boys: Marc, Chad, Rob

The start of “The Hill”Towards the bottom… So.much.fun!! =.) These are the boys… SarahKatieAnd me…I had to steer with my hands…

On Sunday, Marc had to work some, so I hung out with my Mama and Miss Ava.  She’s simply precious! =.)  She and Mama came over to my house to walk the dogs, so when we got back to Mama’s house, and took off Ava’s toboggan (her hat), her hair was just crazy!!  Love it! And my IRL friends will like this – she’s more pale than I am!! Haha! =.) And please ignore the make-upless face

She fell asleep before I left…sweet girlOn Monday, I woke up to this beautiful sunrise with the moon between the trees.  I had to take a picture of it (before I left for work…)

Hope you had a great weekend!  It’s almost here, again!! =.)

Have a happy day, y’all! =.)

Ready for the Weekend!

Last week, my week flew by.  It was great!  I worked on 1099s and W-2s, and I was busy.  This week, I finished all of my tax stuff last week, so I didn’t really have anything to do.  I mean, I’ve had a few things to do here and there, but definitely not enough to keep me busy for a 40-hour week.

The bookkeeper position at our church has become available.  I’m really hoping that it’s a good fit for me.  I would love a little extra money, I’ve not had a raise or a bonus in close to 2 years, now, while my house payment keeps increasing because we have our escrow included.  It’s a bit frustrating.  And stressful.  I need our company to make money, so that I can make just a little more money! =.) And so that my mind will stay busy and occupied and WORKING!  I’m getting bored, which is making me irritable.  But I don’t want a new job.  I like my job.  I just want my work to pick back up so I feel like I’m actually deserving of a full-time salary paid position.  Does that make sense?

So, back to the bookkeeper position.  I’d love to do it.  Not only because it would bring in a little more cash to the household (i.e. our savings account), but I would like working with the church.  I love our church, and I would love to be able to contribute in some way other than just attending. =.)

I love to sew and craft and do all those other fun things that come with crafting.  I told my Mama today that she and I should open up an Etsy shop.  I would absolutely be just ridiculously happy if I could make a living off of selling items on Etsy.  I could do what I love, and stay at home while working.  That’d be perfect for when we have kids!  I would love to be a stay-at-home mom.

That would be my dream job.

That, or to work at a library.  I love books. =.)

**********

On another note.  We’re supposed to be getting between 5-10 inches of snow tonight, into tomorrow afternoon.  Everyone at my office is just dreading it.

I’m not.  I love snow.  It’s beautiful.  Especially out where I live.  Being in the country, our driveway doesn’t get plowed.  We just drive through snow.

And it also reminds me of Boone.  I mean, we don’t get anywhere near the amount of snow, and it’s a completely different type of snow (Boone is more powdery, here, it’s wetter), but it’s still snow.

I thought I had pics from last year’s snow, but apparently not on my work computer.

If we’re lucky, I’ll have some for you tomorrow.  With the dogs playing in it.

And, now that I’ve gotten excited about it, we won’t get any snow. =.)

Hope you have a great weekend!  Stay warm! =.)

Weekend Wrap Up

We had such a nice weekend!

We weren’t sure if Marc’s dad and stepmom were coming up until late Thursday.  The guys are building a ramp for Marc’s grandma that fell.  Lyman, my FIL, doesn’t want her walking up the steps to their porch/entry door to their house.  I think he, and Grandpa Johnson, would just feel a lot better if there was a ramp for Grandma Johnson.  However, the ground is so wet from all the rain we’ve been getting around here lately.  So, they couldn’t do it this weekend.  Lyman and Melinda might be coming up this weekend, instead, depending on the weather.  It absolutely poured here last night, but it’s windy today.  Maybe it’ll dry out. =.)

So, instead, we went out with friends.  There were 13 of us total, and we went to dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, then we went bowling.  By the time we finished eating, it was around 9, so we got to “Cosmic Bowl” in black lights.  I was so excited, because I outscored everyone except for one guy on our first round.  It was a lot of fun just hanging out with everyone.  One of our guy friends spent the night at our house on Friday so that he and Marc could stay up and play a game on the PS3.  After I turned off the subwoofer and asked them to turn down the volume, I slept.  They didn’t go to bed until around 4:30.  No, thank you!

Saturday was just a low key day.  We slept in, which was fantastic! =.) Marc and our friend, Chad, started playing their war game again, so I took the dogs over to my parents house and hung out with my Mama.  She sewed up a few things for me that I needed fixed, and we talked crafts. =.) She’s decided that she’s making everyone something hand-made for Christmas this year, and she’s going to get started on it, now!  We went through some of her old fabric.  She received this “a craft a day” calendar, and one of the crafts tells how to make a cover for a camera strap.  Since my camera’s strap is kind of old and dirty, I want to spruce it up.  So, I’m going to piece together these 6 brightly colored scraps that she has, and make a strap.  I’ll show when it’s finished! =.)

We had a lazy Saturday afternoon, then headed over to our friend’s house for dinner.  Pulled pork that was delicious, with some sides.  Three of the girls there have weddings this spring/summer, so there was TONS of wedding talk! =.) Then two of us slipped away to catch some of the Duke/Clemson basketball game. =.)

Sunday morning, we went to church, then went to the 3rd membership class.  We learned a little about our spiritual gifts and where we can serve using those gifts.  It was pretty interesting.  Of the 15-20 people in the class, 8 of them were from our life group.  We totally represented! =.)

After class, we grabbed lunch at Red Robin with our friends, Chris and Jennifer, who are getting married April 24th.  The we headed to Family Christian Stores to pick up some devotionals for Marc and myself.  I’m excited about mine!  I picked up Women of the Bible, and it’s a 52 week study.  So, so excited to learn about some of the women that aren’t taught or talked about as much. =.) Marc chose the Max Lucado Devotional Bible.  I think I’ll be reading that one next! =.)

We lounged around at the house and I did some laundry before we went to bed.

It was kind of a lazy weekend, but I absolutely LOVED it!  I needed a low-key weekend.  And it was nice to have Marc home to lounge with! =.)

**********

Oh, and I won a giveaway a few weeks ago, and I haven’t posted, but I’ll post about it this week!  I’m in love! =.)

Weekend Recap x2

Sorry for the lack of posts!  I’ve been uninspired, and I haven’t wanted to bore you with the details! =.)

This past weekend was really low-key for us.  I stayed at home on Friday night while Marc went to hang out with some of the guys.  I watched TV and caught up on all of my DVR stuff.

Saturday morning, we went to Siloam Missionary Homes, a place where missionaries come to stay in between missions.  We helped take down and organize all of their Christmas decorations.  Our life group spear-headed the project, and some others from our church joined in.  It was a lot of fun, but I have a few battle wounds from taking down one of the Christmas trees.  The thing was HUGE!  And a wee bit heavy, as I tried to drag it to put it into the box! =.)

In the afternoon, the guys decided to ride their 4-wheelers.  They haven’t been riding since Thanksgiving, and it was a beautiful and mild day.  I got some pictures of them.  I think it’s crazy what they can do on machines (do you know who Travis Pastrana is?  He’s crazy good.  And crazy, but he is just an awesome rider [of motorcycles]).

Saturday evening, we went out to dinner with our life group to have our ‘Christmas’ dinner.  It’s always so busy before Christmas, that we decided it would be best to wait until after.  We enjoyed Cracker Barrel and had a lot of fun.

After dinner, we went out with Chris and Jennifer and bowled.  I was super stoked to win the first game when I bowled a 140.  Then I didn’t do so well the second game with a 103 or something like that.

Sunday, we went to church, then took our second membership class.  We took the first class about a year and a half ago, when we became members.  Better late than never, right? =.)

Our fridge was bare, so we headed to Wal-Mart after lunch.  I so enjoy Wal-Mart much more when we go after the first service at church.  It’s MUCH less crowded and easier to maneuver through! =.)

We came home and took naps.  It was dreary and rainy outside – perfect napping weather!  I’ve started reading The Lovely Bones.  I want to finish reading it before I see the movie.  Besides, the books are always better (in my opinion). =.)  I’m excited to see Dear John with the girls when it comes out.  However, I think I’ll be taking a box of tissues with me, because I’m going to cry.  I mean, it’s Nicholas Sparks – crying is guaranteed, right?

************

Last weekend, Marc went down to Beaufort to go fishing with some friends.  It ended up that the ocean was too rough to fish, but they stayed closer inland and just cruised around for a bit.  While he was at the beach, I was hosting his dad and stepmom, Lyman and Melinda.   They came up Friday night because Marc’s grandma, let’s call her Ma J., fell and fractured her pelvic bone and hurt her hip.  She’s in a rehab center now, so they can get her up and walking before they release her home.  Lyman and Melinda left on Saturday.

Then, on Saturday, I finally got around to putting up all of our Christmas decorations.  I also went through what was left in the attic after I finished decorating, so that I could consolidate and get rid of what I didn’t want to use anymore.  My Christmas side of the attic is so much more organized, and I love it!  It’s so much better!  And the goal is that I won’t have to hunt for what I want next year! =.)

I visited with Mama and Daddy for a little bit, too.  Then, as I was trying to leave for dinner to meet our friends, my car wouldn’t start.  I finally got in touch with my Mama, and she let me borrow her truck.  We all hung out at Rob & Sarah’s, had a great dinner, then all the girls played The Game of Things.

I overslept for church on Sunday, so I just lounged around the house until Marc got home, then we went to dinner with our friends Grant and Katie at our favorite Mexican place.  It was yummy!  It had been awhile since we had eaten there.

My weeks have passed by slowly, as the world of real estate, in my office, at least, is just been really slow this month.  I don’t know if it’s because of all the cold weather, the fact that it’s so soon after the holidays or what, but I need for business to pick up.  Two reasons: 1.  I’m bored out of my mind at work.  I need more to keep me occupied!  Thank goodness that I’m closing out the year and doing 1099s and W-2s or I would be going crazy by now! =.) 2. We need to be making more money.  I don’t like not making money! =.)

So, if you’ve made it this far, thanks for sticking with me!  Things might get a little more interesting next month!  I’ve got a work trip to New Orleans planned in February, and I’m looking into being the treasurer for our church on a part-time basis.  That should keep me a little more busy! =.)

Have a great week, everyone! =.)

Slightly disappointed?

I had such high hopes for tonight!  The hubs is going fishing in Beaufort this weekend, so I was planning a weekend by and for myself.  And I was excited.  Like super-excited to be resting this weekend after about 3 weekends stuffed with plans.

And my previously planned weekend was perfect!  Tonight, I was going home to change directly into my pjs, watch Nights in Rodanthe (no, I still haven’t seen it), and veg out.  Heaven!  Tomorrow, I was going to sleep in, because I am in desperate need of sleep, and then take down our Christmas decorations (don’t judge – we were out of town last weekend =.).

Then, Marc calls earlier this morning to tell me that his dad and step-mom are coming up for the night, so I’ll have guests.

Crap.

There goes my blissful evening.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind that they’re coming up, or that Marc won’t be here so it’ll just be them and me.  I like them. =.)  They’re great in-laws.

But they weren’t in my plans.

And I don’t really do well when my plans change.  Not always, really, just when I have my mind set on something. It drives Marc nuts. =.)

So, tonight, instead of relaxing, I’ll be entertaining.  After I race home after work to vacuum and pick up a bit, as we didn’t find out they were coming until I was already at work this morning.

And I still have Christmas stuff up! =.( I so need to get all that stuff down, and would have, if I had known we’d be having guests.

Oh, well. They’ll be leaving tomorrow, so I can still do everything I had planned for Saturday, except maybe sleep in.  Such is life. =.)

Hope you have a great weekend, everyone! =.)  Stay warm!!

Resolutions

On most blogs that I read regularly, you gals have posted something about new years resolutions.  I think I’m boycotting resolutions this year. =.)

Why, you may ask?

I have a few reasons. =.)

#1.  I’m going to break them.  Let’s just be honest.  I have GREAT intentions starting out, but they won’t last.

#2. I didn’t keep a single one from last year.  Maybe a for a few weeks, maybe for a few months.  But not for a whole year.  If I had kept them, I wouldn’t feel the need to make new ones this year! =.)

#3. I don’t want to be like last year.  I do have changes that I want and NEED to make in my life.  I just don’t feel that making it a ‘resolution’ will make me stick with it this time around.

So, instead, I’m making GOALS.  Yes, maybe they’re the same thing.  Maybe it’s just my mindset.  I don’t care.  I just want something that WORKS! =.)

My intentions?

1. Define my goals =.)

- Be healthy

- Grow spiritually

- Pray with Purpose

- Exercise 4x/week

- Blog more

- Take more pictures

- Live life.  Not just go through motions, but LIVE

2. Create a visual for me to see DAILY.

- I’ll probably cut out/print pictures that I relate to my goals.  Then, I’ll paste them onto a dream board or poster.  I’d love to post it on my fridge, but Marc’s not a fan of clutter, so I need to find a place to put it up so it’s a daily reminder.

3. Hold myself accountable.  In order to do this, I’ll break down each of my goals into smaller action items.

- For example: Exercise 4x/week.

     - Day 1 – Elliptical

     - Day 2 – 30 Day Shred

     - Day 3 – Rest

     - Day 4 – Elliptical

     - Day 5 – Dance/Aerobics/Cardio

     - Day 6 & 7 – Rest

- With these action items, it’s easier for me to attain my goals, because I’ve broken it down into smaller steps.  These are ways to actually achieve my goal, instead of just a big, broad item to stare at. =.) It just works better for me, this way.  Also, if I want to, I can cross it off weekly, what I’ve done.  Then, there’s a sense of accomplishment as I work towards the goal.

So, there you have it.  My ‘resolutions’ for 2010. =.)

Is there anything that you do in order to stick with your resolutions or goals?  Do you have a dream board?  If so, where do you keep it?  What’s on it?

Happy 2010 and good luck!  I wish you a happy, prosperous, and FULFILLED year! =.)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Gross

When I was backing up to park my car last night when I got home, I noticed that Ace was looking at my back tire kind of weird.  You know, turning his head a bit, trying to figure something out?

I got out of my car, and I hear this hissing sound.  It sounds like someone has popped a beach ball or something.  Great.

I make Marc go outside to see what it is, and apparently, I had a huge gash in my tire from a rock.

Like the wonderful husband that he is, he took my car to my brother’s so he could get a better look at it.  So, now I’m driving on my spare tire while he takes it to the shop to get it plugged today.

This is what my tires are supposed to look like: This is what my spare looks like:

I know – it’s gross.  That’s what the bottom of my car looks like, I suppose.  Oh, the joy of living on a dirt road! =.)

I love my country life, though!  Wouldn’t trade it for anything! =.)

Hopefully, it’ll be all fixed with 4 normal tires by tomorrow! =.)

Weekend Recap =.)

We had such an awesome weekend!  It started a little bit early.  I took a half day on Thursday, so we could head down to Beaufort, NC and get there kind of early for New Year’s Eve.  We spent the weekend at our friends’ house, and we had an absolute blast!  Yay! =.)

Chad and Katie were great hosts!  They let 4 couples stay with them in their beach house.  Marc and I shared a room with Grant and Katie, and we had fun. =.)

So, for Thursday night, we got to Beaufort around 5:30 or so, right as the sun was setting, and I got a few good pics coming over the bridges from Morehead City.  I love the sun on the water.  So peaceful! =.)

We unloaded Marc’s truck, and hung out with everyone at Chad and Katie’s for a little bit.  That evening, we took Chad’s boat over to some friends’ condos and spent the evening in their lobby.  The guys played corn hole outside while the girls stayed inside, for the most part.  It was nice just socializing and talking and listening to music with all of our friends.  Our group consists of about 6 couples, and we were all down there to spend New Year’s together, so it was great. =.)

Best hosts EVER!! =.) All the girls on New Year’s Eve

Girls from the Merritt House

I guess around 2 we all headed back to our houses.  The guys took the boat back, but the girls didn’t want to freeze on the water, so one of the guys from the condos, Chris, drove us all back.  We were really grateful! =.)

Friday was a low-key day.  We all just lounged around the house and watched Miss Congeniality, Khloe & Kourtney Take Miami, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians all afternoon.  I do believe that the guys escaped to the Man Cave while the girls cozied up on the couch! =.)  We went to a late dinner with everyone Friday night, then the girls made a late night Wal-Mart run to pick up some board games.  When we got back to the house, the 5 girls played board games while the boys retreated to the Man Cave, again.

On Saturday, we lounged around for a little bit, but then headed back over to the condos for an Oyster grill with everyone, again.  It was absolutely FREEZING on Saturday!  The guys stayed outside manning the grill while all the gals were inside the garage with the propane heater, football, and board games.  We had such a great time!  I love all the people we spent time with.

All the girls on Saturday NightKaty, Katie, & me

I told Marc on the way home from Beaufort that I was really glad we went down for the weekend.  I’m so much just a homebody who loves to stay in with family and friends in pajamas for New Years.  With that being said, I wasn’t really expecting to have a great time.  Boy, was I wrong!  I’m so glad that he convinced me to go down for the weekend.  Thanks, Marc! =.)  You were right! Just this once!! =.)

View on the ride back to Morehead City

I didn’t take many pictures.  Mainly just the ones on the bridge over when we arrived and when we left.  I forgot my camera on Saturday night, and that was the most fun all weekend.  It was even better than New Year’s! =.)

So, I hope you had a fabulous weekend, and a Happy New Year!!! =.)