Mommy Monday - Pack It Up

I learned a few things about myself this weekend on our trek to Knoxville to visit family and cheer on our Tennessee Volunteers.

First - I HATE packing! Like really hate it. I have never really given much thought to packing before because it has just always been something that I do. However, after working a full day and then rushing home to pack before hitting the road, I quickly realized how much I despise it because when I pack, I pack. It makes no difference to me if I am going for one night or one week because I will somehow take the same amount of stuff regardless. And while many people joke about my excessive packing skills, when someone needs something, guess who has it....this girl, right here! Of course now a days I am also packing for Sophie so it's double if not triple the work.

This suitcase has been through so much. When the day comes that it must retire (currently we are down to 3 wheels), we will hold a moment of silence and be sure to give it a proper "send off". This bag has been through five years of college, a honeymoon, weekend trips, business trips, and everything in between. She's been good to me and has held up through it all, especially being dragged, litterly dragged, down three flights of stairs over the course of the four years in college at our apartment complex because obviously it was too heavy for me to lift.

For all of my cosmetics of course. Even though we use travel size shampoo and shower gel, I still find a way to stock it full of goodies. You just never know when you may need your nail polishes with you in case of an emergency. And of course our "nice" clothes must be hung and not be folded when traveling.

Hmmm, I am now realizing that I should probably thank my husband for his muscles and patience. He did go on a work trip recently and I must admit, I was very proud of his packing skills so obviously something good has come from all of it. At least he is no longer carrying a plastic Wal-Mart bag for this trips!

Second - as nice as it was to enjoy the game day with my handsome hubby, I prefer going with my friend Lindsay.

Lindsay and I have gone to the games together since we graduated college. I love how we can cheer together, scream together, and then in the next breath are talking about how cute that girl's coat is or how we are just dying for a new pair of boots. Jeff likes to analyze the game from beginning to end and really did not share my love of dissecting the cute winter coats around us or the best nail polish color for Fall/Winter in between chants of Rocky Top. Who knew?!

Third, I like Cracker Barrel better during the winter time. Growing up I played competitve softball which means we were traveling ALL the time. We would always eat Cracker Barrel so still to this day, I am a bit burned out from it. However, we had breakfast there on Sunday morning with some of Jeff's family and it was so nice and cozy. The fire was going in the fireplace, the holiday decorations were up, and I realized that maybe there is something to this place afterall, in the winter time at least. And Sophie loved the rocking chairs!

Guess we will be adding this to her already lengthy Christmas list!  



Fabulous Friday - Dance Party

TGIF!

This morning on Good Morning America they shared a viral video of Dr. Deborah Cohan who was undergoing surgery for a double mastectomy. Before her surgery, she decided that she would host a dance party with her team of doctors.

Needless to say, I had cried off all of my mascara before I even made it out of the door to work. So incredibly inspirirational!

Check out the video by Clicking Here

Go Deborah!

I have finally found the perfect pair of leggings! My leggings last year came from Target last year and as much as I loved them, they just did not hold up. Sadly, you sometimes get what you pay for. This year I was determined to buy a better pair. However, I am a gal with a bootie so I have to find just the right amount of thickness and coverage or it could get ugly for everyone! I finally had success with the leggings from Ann Taylor Loft and I am obsessed with them!

Ann Taylor Loft

Sadly they have sold out online but do have them in the store and they are having a great sale right now too! I am not really a fan of the picture or how they have styled them in the picture but I promise they are amazing!

Enjoy your weekend!

XOXO

Random Thursday - Never Ever

1) Recent Conversation -

Me- "Sophie, what are you doing with your baby doll bottle under your shirt?"

Sophie - "I am getting milk for my baby."

Me - Thinking that I am afraid to ask, I go for it anyways, "Where is the milk coming from?"

Sophie - "From my belly, I just had a baby."

Whew!!!!! I was so not ready to have that conversation!

2) Blockbuster has officially closed. To be honest, I thought it happened awhile ago but apparently not. Anyways, it occured to me that this is the end of era. I have fond memories of going to the "video store" with Mom and Dad when I was younger and picking out a special movie for all of us to watch together. Of course you had to hope that your movie selection was "in" and if not and you were really desperate, you could go to the front and ask if had recently been returned and perhaps not been restocked yet. The good 'ole days.

3) Sophie starts school next Fall and we have begun the task of visiting schools. Stressful process! Jeff and I have been discussing it for awhile and have decided that, if possible, it is very important to us that Sophie have a faith based education. We are blessed in our community to have a few options so the tours have begun. By the time Sophie actually starts school, these people are probably going to be so over seeing me! We are just praying that God provides us with the direction and a sense of peace with where we should send her.

4) We had our family pictures this week and overall, they went really well. We used a new photographer and loved her! Sophie did great and is always wonderful with following directions but as far as actually smiling for the camera- that is another story. She hams it up for pictures all the time so I am not sure what happens or why but when it comes to family pictures, she refuses to smile and instead offers a firestarter esque type of glare. Lovely. Luckily, I still feel confident she was able to snag some great pictures. Just one picture is all I have wanted for the past 2 years....just one!

I took this little gem after we had gotten home and she was exhausted!

5) I am very blessed in my life to have many girlfriends that I have been friends with for going on 20 years now. However - one of my most special and oldest friends, who I have been friends with since we were in the 1st grade (27 years - yikes!), sent me this picture last weekend. She came across it at her mama's house and it litterly made my heart melt! We have been through so much together and our mamas are equally as close...it's like one big family. I love you so much my repper (there is no way on this green earth that I could ever share with you the origin of this nickname...like never ever)!  



Wifey Wednesday - Season of Waiting

I have shared before about how I feel as though I am in a season of waiting and change. What exactly that change is or where it leads me is yet be seen but I do recognize what is happening and God's great work in progress. In the meantime, lots of patience and appreciating those encouraging moments and words of inspiration that God places in my life just when I need it. 

If you have not already checked out SheReadsTruth, do so today! They offer wonderful daily devotionals delivered to your inbox. And truth is exactly what they speak! The devotional I received yesterday morning was appropriately entitled - The Waiting Season.Thank you heavenly Father for speaking your truth to me through this devotional and reminding me of your great love and plan for me. It was as though this devotional was written especially for me but isn't that how our mighty and powerful Heavenly Father works?

My favorite part of the devotional was the following - "When we are forced to wait is when our flesh likes to take over. The waiting isn't just the hardest part, it's the growing part. And the gardener can't be rushed in this season. He won't be rushed in this season. Think of the waiting as labor pains. While we are waiting, we are changing - He's changing us in the waiting."

We are all waiting for something in our lives. It may be prayers for health, our children, spouse, jobs, but there is always something. During this waiting season he is calling us. He is calling us to him and begging us to give it all to him. He understands that we make mistakes and are are only human. Sometimes our flesh and human nature get in the way of letting him work his truth in our lives. Let him carry the burden, let him take care of it because we are his children and he loves us just that much. We must hit our knees and pray while humbly laying it at his feet at the cross. When we do this, when we completely let it go, he will give us a sense of peace. A sense of peace we did not know we could have during this storm or season of waiting. A sense of peace that can only come from our creator and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because he loves us that much. Because he would do anything for us - even die on the cross so that we could live for eternity with him in heaven.

I am going to choose to thank him for this season of waiting in my life. Thank him for the new doors he has opened.Thank him for the new seeds of faith that he has planted inside of me that have begun to grow and for those that have yet to even be realized. I know that during this season of waiting he is preparing me and I choose to glorify him and his plan for me. He is the author of my life, not me. Besides, the story will be so much better with him writing it!    

Tummy Tuesday - Brunch and Lost Teeth

Our kickoff for the game this Saturday against Auburn is high Noon. I really do not enjoy the early kickoffs because everything always seems so rushed as opposed to nice and relaxed. Plus, Jeff and I are going together which never happens. As often as we go together, we never actually sit together. We (me) enjoy sitting with our friends mostly because I do not enjoy being clobbered on the head, shoulder, and face 72 times by his elbow as he knocks me down to jump and cheer. Then, there is also the reality of trying to decide whether his level of craziness is admirable or disturbing. Either way, here's to hoping I come back with all my teeth!

 The early kickoff time does give me the chance to try some new brunch recipes. If successful, they will make great breakfast treats for the holidays and visiting family!

First up - Breakfast Casserole.

 Cresecent rolls, cheese, sausage, and egg?! Umm, yes please. Not really sure how this recipe could go wrong. However, with me trying something new - anything is possible!

Next up - Sausage Biscuit Pinwheels. I mean really...doesn't the picture say it all?!

Enjoy and most especially -
Go VOLS!!!!!!

Mommy Monday - Double the Trouble, Twice the Fun

It was so exciting this weekend celebrating my little sister and soon to be precious niece and nephew! It is getting so real and we just cannot wait to meet them. They are both such a blessing from God!

We know Grandma Deei is looking down from heaven and smiling!

When did my baby sister get old enough to have one baby....much less two?!

My most favorite teacher (and friend) ever from 1st grade - Mrs. McKay. And I swear to you - she looks exactly the same now as she did when I was in the first grade! We also froze little plastic babies in ice - how creepy/fun right?! The first person whose ice melted shouted their water broke and they won a prize. Cutest little game ever and more importantly, easy!

Wonderful weekend surrounded by love!

  

Fabulous Friday - Halloween Recap

TGIF!

Happy day after Halloween!

We had a very busy but productive candy producing Halloween. For Sophie's party at school yesterday she decided she wanted to be Minnie Mouse again. She came to this decision because she was gravely concerned that she would get her Repunzel dress dirty playing in the mulch at school because "mommy sometimes we like to sit down in it and play" so she would wear Minnie Mouse and preserve Repunzel for trick or treating. Sometimes it scares me how much we are alike! 

On her own this year, my child decided that she wanted to be both Minnie Mouse and Repunzel which made me just giddy with happiness! These are two really nice costumes which we already had from our spring trip to Disney World. You can only imagine my excitement at not having to buy a halloween costume!! Instead, I tried to play it cool when she suggested it because I did not want to make any sudden movements that would deter her from this decision. I was like a deer in headlights. 

Sophie was very proud of our Oreo Truffle Ghosts that we made for her school party.

I will not be giving Martha Stewart a run for her money anytime soon but overall, they turned out pretty cute and luckily it doesn't take too much to impress 4 year olds!

Not sure if you can tell but the big pumpkin on the right also has a tongue so it appears as though he is throwing up. Jeff said it reminded him of me from my recent sick days. Anyways, Sophie thought it was so gross and perfect. In all fairness, we stole it from my Mom and Dad since they found the idea and made it happen.

Enjoying her cupcake mustache at her school party!

She was so excited when Daddy surprised her and made it the Halloween Party at school!

Repunzel's wig was a little heavy so it looked a bit more like she had a bad weave but Sophie loved it so that is all that mattered. She said she was going to toss her hair from her bedroom window so Garrison, her friend across the street, could climb up it. Oh my girl, I am sure that would make Daddy so happy to hear! 

Ready for some candy!!

Sweet babies!

Gigi trying to keep up with Sophie!

A family in our neighborohood dressed as Despicable Me. As if that is not cute enough - she made all their costumes too. Seriously amazing right?!

We racked up last night and our house smells like a candy store. Jeff and I look forward to doing our parental duties this evening and combing through her candy to make sure it is all "safe". The unsafe candy will need to be eaten by one of us, you know, just to be on the safe side and all. That is just a risk we are willing to take because we are such awesome parents!

 Have a great weekend!!

XOXO