All in a Day's Work...

2011-09-20T19:22:00.001-05:00

Southern Living's Extra-Cheesy (Crock-Pot) Macaroni and Cheese

According to Donny, this is the best macaroni and cheese he has ever eaten. Enjoy!

Makes 6 to 8 servings

1 (8oz) package shredded Italian three-cheese blend
1 (8oz) package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces small shell pasta (about 2 1/4 cups), uncooked

1. Combine cheeses in a bowl; set aside.

2. Whisk together eggs and next 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in pasta and 3 cups cheese mixture. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 3-quart slow cooker; sprinkle with 3/4 cup cheese mixture.

3. Cover and cook on LOW 4 hours. Sprinkle servings evenly with remaining cheese mixture.

2011-09-11T22:16:00.000-05:00

Friday

Friday was a rough day for me. I was worn down, my students weren't performing to the levels that I know they are capable of, and it seemed like everyone at Lowe's had a problem or complaint that night. When I left the store at 10:30, knowing that I had to be back on Saturday at 9, I sat in my car for a minute to simply take a breath. I felt as if I had been going non-stop for weeks. I had an e-mail notification and decided to check it before I headed home. Much to my surprise, I had my first student e-mail that was not regarding a homework assignment. See below:

Subject: :) Hi Mrs. Ott

Hi Mrs. Ott :) It's me _____ from your ____ and ____ block :)
I just wanted to say that you're a very good math teacher :)
I've learned a lot lately and it's a bit hard but I think I got it.
Thank you for everything :)

Sincerely,
_________ _________ :)

I'll admit it; it brought tears to my eyes and still does. It is nice to know that my hard work is paying off; that I'm making a difference in someone's life. Little did that student know, but they were also making a difference in my life...just like the 101 other students I see each day. I am richly blessed!

Friday wasn't so rough after all...

2011-03-23T07:42:00.002-05:00

Things That Make Me Happy

On the way to work this morning, I was thinking about how blessed I am and wanted to share a few things that have made me happy lately.

• Walks with Donny and Zoe
• Wearing jeans to work while supporting a good cause
• Meeting new neighbors
• Boot Camp
• Kidd Kraddick In The Morning
• Spending time with friends
• Eating out
• Drinks from Sonic
• My students
• Spring Break
• Being caught up on grading
• Spending time with family
• Cooking
• Warm weather
• Flip-flops
• Shopping for a wedding dress (and finding one)
• Church
• Singing
• Dancing

What are some things that make you happy?

2010-12-23T13:22:00.002-06:00

Cleaning Routine

I like to clean, but am wanting to create a regular cleaning schedule. Currently, someone either cleans for me or it takes most of the day on Saturday. Do any of you have a schedule that you follow weekly (i.e. Bathrooms on Monday, Kitchen on Tuesday)? If so, please share!

2010-08-10T18:51:00.004-05:00

Bargains

It is no surprise that I love bargains. I can remember being little and shopping the clearance racks at Dillards. I also paid $30 for one prom dress and $15 for another. As I said...I love bargains. Fortunately, since we've moved into our new house, I've found several of them.

Bargain #1 - FREE refrigerator

Story: As I was packing up the old house, I realized I didn't want to move the mismatched dishes and cups. I placed an ad on Craigslist and within an hour, 14 people asked to come pick them up. I contacted the first lady and as she was packing the dishes I mentioned that I haven't given away much on Craigslist. She said she had and was about to post a fridge on there. I asked a few more questions, found out it was free and voila...we had a garage refrigerator. It may be old, but it works like a charm.

Bargain #2 - $150 rug for $10 + $42 to clean

Story: After eating at Montana's in Granbury we decided to go in Aaron's Rental. We knew we had to be particular about what rug we purchased because of the dog and cat hair. So...we found a rug that was $150 and decided that that was a good price, but wanted to shop around a little more. When we went outside, the exact same rug was out there. I asked how much it was and the lady said $10 since it had been previously leased. $42 later, we saved approx. $100 on the rug.

Bargain #3 - $125 patio furniture set

Story: Once again, this was a Craigslist deal. I'm addicted. I spend at least an hour every night browsing things for sale. I will never buy a new piece of furniture after seeing what people are willing to sell and at such low prices.

Bargain #4 - FREE chiminea

Story: While moving out of the old house, I commented on the neighbor's chiminea that I saw for the first time. She then asked if I wanted to borrow it (most likely permanently) because she wasn't using it. So you guessed it, I borrowed it!

As long as I live I will be a bargain shopper. I love the feeling of getting a good deal. It's addicting!

2010-02-13T18:49:00.002-06:00

Miscellaneous...

I don't even know where to start and I don't have any pictures to make this interesting. I haven't been able to find my camera for a couple of months now. I haven't looked terribly hard for it, but I do feel lost without it.

In the last couple of weeks I:

- Didn't drink as much water as planned, but have gotten better.
- Transitioned from the business world back to teaching. I love my students, team and school. I am so blessed.
- Have attended many basketball games. North Crowley is in the playoffs and typically wins their games by 20+ points.
- Have made some new friends through school and through Donny's school. One of the advantages of Donny being an English teacher is that he works with a team of mainly females.
- Have found a place to take piano lessons, less than 5 houses away from mine.
- Have had 3 days off of school thanks to Martin Luther King day, a snow day, and President's Day.
- Woke up Friday morning with a horrible sore throat and sinus pressure. I had been tired all week and winded when I walked up the stairs at school. Come to find out I had sinusitis and bronchitis. If you've never been to Trinity Xpress Med - I highly recommend it. I ended up with two shots and 3 antibiotics.
- Had a hair dryer catch on fire. Literally. I had to throw it across the bathroom to make it stop burning. Needless to say I bought a new one today.
- Kept the books at the Crowley Middle School vs. Summer Creek Championship.
- Had dinner with two great friends and one of their boyfriends.

AND...graded hundreds of papers!

I hope everyone has a GREAT Valentine's Day!!

2010-01-13T18:54:00.003-06:00

Changes

I've said before that I like change. And...my life is about to change dramatically. I have made the decision to return to teaching and beginning Tuesday, I will be a 6th grade math teacher in Mansfield ISD!! I can't wait to be back in the classroom and be on the same schedule as Donny. That being said, I am really excited about this opportunity. However, I am sad to leave all of my friends at Northwestern Mutual.

If you think about it, please say an extra prayer for me as one chapter of my life closes and another begins.

2009-12-14T14:25:00.002-06:00

Water Update

Thank you for all of your suggestions and encouragement on my water challenge. I haven't gotten off to a very good start. As a reminder, my goal was to drink 4-20 oz bottles of water per day for a month. So far, here are my totals:

Day 1 - 5 bottles (not too shabby) +1 for my goal
Day 2 - 0 bottles (terrible) -3 for my goal
Day 3 - 1 bottle (still terrible) -6 for my goal
Day 4 - 1/2 bottle (you guessed it...terrible) -9.5 for my goal
Day 5 - 1 bottle (haven't given up yet) -12.5 for my goal

Today is Day 6. I am determined to drink at least 4 bottles before I leave work. Hopefully I can start chipping away at the 12.5 bottles I'm behind as well.

2009-12-09T13:41:00.008-06:00

Hi, My name is Carissa...

and I hate drinking water. Really...any liquids for that matter. As a result, I need some accountability. My skin is incredibly dry and it's amazing I'm not dehydrated to the point of needing to go to the hospital. Before today, I couldn't tell you the last time I drank water. It has probably been months and that's not an exaggeration.

So...I'm going to set a goal of drinking at least 4, 20 oz bottles of water a day for a month. The one pictured below is in my office and I am planning on washing and refilling it each day. I'm going to report my results as often as possible. Wish me luck!!

2009-10-22T14:19:00.004-05:00

Do You Hate Junk Mail?

If so, check out this website. By clicking on the icon below and filling in a few pieces of information, a document will be created. The document requests your removal from 9 different junk-mail lists. I'm going to try it, if for no other reason than to help save a few trees.

2009-10-13T07:48:00.002-05:00

Camp Wolfgang - Urgent Request

A German Shepherd rescue group called Camp Wolfgang , in Ennis, Texas is closing down on October 31st. They have nearly 200 dogs that must find a foster home or be adopted before then or they will have no choice but to euthanize them all. All the dogs are vetted, spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, well cared-for and many have training. If you cannot help by fostering or adopting...YOU CAN STILL HELP!!!

Please forward this information to everyone you know! They do not need or want donations, they simply MUST place all of the dogs. Adoption fees are $75.00, free to verifiable rescue groups.

Current dogs: (approximation) 120 German Shepherds; 2 Akitas; 1 Anatolian/Great Pyrenees; 4 Purebred Rottweilers; 1 Great Dane/Lab; 1 Boxer/Mastiff; 1 St. Bernard/Akita; 1 WolfDog; 45 Other mixed breeds.

Time is of the essence!! If you know anyone who can adopt, accept a dog into their rescue, or help in any way, contact Neisha Livengood, Kennel Master at Camp Wolfgang .

Neisha Livengood
windigo1966@yahoo.com
wally@campwolfgang.com
campwolfgang@yahoo.com
phone: 214-755-1627

Camp Wolfgang
6234 FM 879
Ennis, Texas 75119
www.campwolfgang.petfinder.com

2009-10-05T14:02:00.002-05:00

Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad

I made Neiman Marcus' Chicken Salad for a shower I helped host this weekend. This was my first time to make it and I must say, it was delicious. I followed the recipe below, however, I used Tyson's White Canned Chicken instead of chicken breasts. I also added more almonds than the reciped required and less celery and grapes. Enjoy!

2 1/4 diced cold white meat chicken (approx. 4 breasts)
1 c. finely chopped celery1 c. halved green seedless grapes
1/2 c. slivered toasted almonds
2 tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. salt, optional
1 c. mayonnaise (not salad dressing)
1/2 c. whipping cream (whipped stiff)

Combine all ingredients and serve. Serves 6-8.

2009-09-22T14:05:00.004-05:00

Monkey Bread

Shared by Natalie Wier

For as long as I can remember, Monkey Bread was present at Wier sleepovers. Thanks to Natalie, I finally have the recipe.

It is designed to be made in a bundt pan. In the picture, however, it was made in an angel food pan because that was all my grandmother had. Forgive the powdered sugar blobs. I took the picture before I smoothed them. Enjoy!

3 cans cheap biscuits
1 stick margaine
2 T. cinnamon
1/4c. sugar
3/4c. sugar
1/2 box powdered sugar ( or 2c)
1t. vanilla
milk

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Mix cinnamon and 1.4c sugar together in bowl.
2. Open biscuits, separate, and cut into fourths. Roll biscuits in cinnamon and sugar. Place in a greased bundt pan.
3. Melt butter.
4. Add extra sugar to remaining cinnamon and sugar mixture until you have 3/4c of mixture.
5. Pour melted butter over mixture.
6. Stir and pour over biscuits.
7. Bake at 350 for 30 min.

As soon as its ready, flip it over and add glaze.

For Glaze:
Mix powdered sugar and vanilla together. Add just enough milk to make it thick. Spoon glaze over top.

2009-09-22T10:19:00.003-05:00

Baked Spaghetti

Thanks to a recipe on this blog I made Baked Spaghetti last night. It was delicious if I may say so myself and also really easy to make. I took pictures, however my camera isn't working properly.

BAKED SPAGHETTI

16 oz spaghetti
26 oz spaghetti sauce
1 ½ lbs. ground beef
1 egg
8 oz sour cream
1 stick margarine/butter
2-3 cups grated cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS: While spaghetti is cooking, brown ground beef, drain excess fat and add the sauce. Drain pasta and add the sour cream and margarine. When the pasta has cooled a bit, add the egg. Place pasta mixture in the bottom of a greased 13x9 casserole dish. Top pasta with the ground beef mixture. Then cover with cheddar. Bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.

2009-09-21T10:44:00.004-05:00

Rocky

This weekend was spent eating, selling, eating, shopping, and more eating thanks to Antique Alley. On Thursday, my Aunt and I set up our estate sale. We sold the last of my grandma's things that had been in storage since February. The only problem is I ended up taking home a carload full of stuff. How could I let someone buy Mr. and Mrs. Claus that had been a part of every Christmas I'd ever had? Unfortunately the rain got the best of us on Thursday. It had rained Wednesday night and everything was soaked. It also rained on us most of the day. Although it was frustrating at times, it was nice not to have to put on makeup or do my hair! We ate dinner at R & K Cafe and I had a grilled cheese with bacon. Talk about a heart attack in a sandwich. But...it was delicious. On Friday, the rain held off and everything went well. On Saturday, my friends Diana and Shannon joined me to do some shopping and sampling of food. We ate barbecue sandwiches, homemade kettle corn, homemade fried pies, etc. We were in food heaven! While we were walking around, we saw a house that had Shih-Tzu puppies for sale. They also had a kitten pouncing around the yard. Donny's been wanting a playmate for Zoe and agreed I could get a kitten rather than getting a puppy. So...I asked the lady if she would be willing to sell the kitten. She actually said I could have it. It was a stray that she found wedged between the screen door and front door during all the rain. I bought a gerbil cage to put him in ( I couldn't find anything else) and away we went. His name was supposed to be Rowdy but I kept calling him Rocky. So...Rocky it is. I was nervous to introduce him to Zoe because she has never been around cats. Plus, she's 70 lbs. and he is barely 1 lb. Zoe got really excited and tried to jump in order to reach Rocky. He did not appreciate that gesture. He hissed and swung at her. Slowly but surely they warmed up to each other. They're still not best friends, but they're working on it. I've included some cute pictures of them 'playing.'

'Maybe if I hide here she can't see me!'

Rocky playing with his mouse

Zoe looks hungry.

2009-09-04T07:58:00.004-05:00

Prayers

I've known Mike, Sharon, and Kimberly Conrad since I was in 3rd grade. I never got to meet Kimberly's older brother,Brian, but the article below is about him and his family. They were brutally slain in 2005. The only person that survived was his 10 year old daughter. Please be in prayer for the daughter, as well as Mike, Sharon, and Kimberly, as they go through this trial.

Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Pregnant Woman, 2 Others in Texas Farmhouse
Thursday, September 03, 2009

LUBBOCK, Texas — A Missouri man pleaded guilty Thursday to capital murder for killing a pregnant woman, her husband and son at a Texas Panhandle farmhouse in 2005. Levi King, 26, entered his plea in Lubbock and then prosecutors began the punishment phase. The state is seeking the death penalty. King pleaded guilty to killing Michell Conrad, 35, her husband Brian Conrad, 31, and her 14-year-old son, Zach Doan. They were found slain in their remote farmhouse. Michell Conrad was six months pregnant. Her 10-year-old daughter survived and called 911. Texas law enforcement officials did not released the 911 tape, any details about how the girl survived or what she might have seen. It was not clear whether she would testify. Authorities have never released a motive for the slayings. Earlier this year, the judge in the case issued a gag order.

King pleaded guilty last year in the shooting deaths of Orlie McCool, 70, and his 47-year-old daughter-in-law, Dawn McCool. Their bodies were found by a relative in a rural Pineville, Mo., home on Sept. 30, 2005 — the same day authorities in the Texas Panhandle discovered the bodies in the Conrads' home. Missouri authorities said King drove Orlie McCool's pickup truck from Missouri to the Conrads' home in Texas. King was caught the same night trying to re-enter the U.S. at the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas. Shortly after investigators brought the truck back to Missouri from El Paso, a name tag with Brian Conrad's name was found in the vehicle. Investigators said ballistics tests linked one of four guns found in the truck to the Texas killings. King was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without parole for the Missouri killings. The Texas punishment would take precedence under an agreement with Missouri.

2009-08-27T10:37:00.004-05:00

How Do They Do It?

How do people combine coupons and pay $3.00 for groceries that should cost $50 to $100? Do you use coupons? Do you combine them even when it says you can't?

2009-08-17T13:47:00.006-05:00

Austin and Ivy

Donny and I went to Austin this weekend. His grandpa is 92 and decided to travel from Ohio (with Donny's mom) to see his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. We had a great time getting to visit with everyone. His grandpa brought all of the letters Donny sent to him as a child. In all of them Donny talked about bunnies and the weather. Apparently his grandparents always had bunnies in their backyard and the weather was so different in Ohio than in Texas, it was always a topic of conversation.

We took some pictures before we left, then went to the school to play basketball, soccer, golf, etc. While we were playing basketball, I decided to take off my jewelry. I sat it down within reach of Donny's 2-year-old niece. Unfortunately, the charm that meant the most to me went missing. Donny had it engraved and sent it to me for Valentine's Day. So...we dug through thick ivy, roaches, and lizards for two hours, but never found it. I was/am extremely sad.

Me with Tatum and Jordan

Donny with Tatum and Jordan

Donny tickling Tatum

4 Generations: Tatum, Bobby (Donny's brother),

Grandpa, Donny, Sharon (Donny's mom), and Jordan

Grandpa with Jordan and Tatum

Us with Grandpa

Us with Donny's mom and Grandpa

Sharon and the boys

"Help Uncle Dee Dee" (She made the basket by the way!)

The missing charm. It said "Love Always Donny" on the back.

2009-07-29T15:38:00.004-05:00

Guess Who's 21 Today

My 'Little' Sister...

Happy Birthday Brette!

2009-06-23T08:46:00.002-05:00

Unlikely Angel

For those of you that don't know my brother, Corey, he is a songwriter in Nashville. One of the songs he wrote, Unlikely Angel, was released on iTunes today!! The artist is Jason Jones who is a part of the Warner Brothers label.

I am SO excited for Corey! If you happen to purchase this song, will you please let me know so that I can tell him?

Another song he wrote, Heroes and Angels, will kick off the Annual Conference of the Veterans of WWII Convention in Las Vegas where he'll also get to meet President Obama.

CONGRATULATIONS COREY!

2009-06-12T11:17:00.009-05:00

Update

During Memorial Day weekend I went to visit my first college roommate, Carrie (Peter) Watts. Her parents only live an hour away from Donny, so I spent all day on Saturday with Carrie and her family. Her dad is a farmer who grows sweet corn. Every Memorial Day Weekend, her family sells the corn at Prasek's. It was great to see Carrie's family, many of whom I had not seen since her wedding, 6 years ago. The best part was getting to meet Carrie and Clint's new daughter, M. M's story is an amazing one. One day at church, a lady approached them and said her niece wanted to give up her 5 month old for adoption. She asked if they would be interested in adopting M. 24 hours later, Clint and Carrie were parents!

Here's the precious little girl!

--------------
Also...I am VERY excited to announce that Donny got a coaching job at North Crowley High School. He is moving to Fort Worth around August 1st and is looking for a place to rent. If you know of anyone in the South Fort Worth/North Crowley area that has a place to rent (that is reasonably affordable for one person - $850 or less), please let me know. I can't wait to FINALLY be in the same town after 3 years of a long-distance relationship.

--------------

My dad also accepted a new coaching position and will be the Head Baseball Coach of the East Hickman Eagles in Lyles, Tennessee.

2009-05-21T12:56:00.004-05:00

London Andrew

My cousin, Joy, and her husband, Philip, had their first child on May 5th. Joy and Philip met in London while they were studying abroad. They decided to name their first-born London since the country was so special to them.

Meeting London for the 1st time - Forgive my shiny face. They were keeping the room warm, not to mention I bought foundation for dry skin and apparently it made my face REALLY oily.

London Andrew - 9lbs, 3 oz and 23 inches long!

London

Look at that hair!

Joy, London and Me at the hospital.

Joy, London and Aunt Marie

2009-04-23T15:36:00.004-05:00

Newport Beach, California

April 17th - 20th, 2009

Mike and I at Sharkeez

Seals out in the ocean

Mike and I at Mutts

Mike and I on the boat

Birdman at Newport Beach

Brette and I on the way to breakfast

Sisters

At the Dory Fishing Fleet

We anchored in the harbor. This was a sailboat behind us.

Fresh Dead Squid (see the sign)?

Brette, Angelina and I on the front of Mike's Boat

2009-04-15T14:18:00.002-05:00

Vacation

Tomorrow Brette and I are headed to Newport Beach to visit Mike. In case you don't know who Mike is, he was married to our mom for about 10 years. When they got divorced, he moved back to California. Part of the time he lives on his boat "Gotta Lime" and the other part of the time, he lives in Palm Springs. So...we're flying out there tomorrow and staying on the boat for the weekend. I can't wait!

2009-04-03T08:40:00.002-05:00

For Gayle (and anyone else who's curious)

The Valentine's Gift Exchange that I participated in was orchestrated by my friend Jennifer. She had everyone that was interested in participating e-mail her and give her their mailing addresses. After the entry deadline, she paired people up and sent everyone the name and address of their match. We then mailed a Valentine's Day treat to that person that was $10 or less and posted a picture of the gifts on our blogs.

Fun!

2009-04-03T08:36:00.003-05:00

What Happens...

when you travel without packing warm clothes? You get to wear the largest thing in your girlfriend's closet, which happens to be a sweatshirt with her name on the back. Poor guy!

2009-03-12T09:08:00.003-05:00

Let Your Worries Go

Remember when I posted about Northwestern Mutual's Let Your Worries Go campaign? I'm proud to announce the following results of that campain through an article released by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation:

In first place with more than 42,000 votes was the YMCA. The Northwestern Mutual Foundation will contribute $400,000 to the YMCA to support Healthy Kids Day programming across the country.

Additionally, Habitat for Humanity - New Orleans is receiving $250,000, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is receiving $200,000 and Feeding America is receiving $150,000.

During this time when every dollar counts, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is proud to utilize this campaign to make a meaningful impact for people who are touched by the outreach of these organizations across the country.

Thank you again.

Northwestern Mutual

2009-03-01T14:17:00.003-06:00

Sweet Mema (Updated with Pictures)

My sweet Mema went home to the Lord last Monday morning. She was a beautiful, Godly woman and has now been reunited with my Pepa and her many other friends and family in Heaven. For a couple of weeks before Mema passed away, she had been asking me questions about Donny. Questions such as "Don't you still love him? I know he still loves you. Aren't you going to let him take you to lunch? Aren't you going to go to his basketball game?"

I had already decided I was going to allow him to take me to lunch during Valentine's Day weekend and when I told her, she couldn't have been happier. She called me after he went home just to ask how things went.

It's no secret Mema loved Donny. She always asked about him and would even make him his own pie to take home after the holidays. Here are a couple of pictures to prove it...
Fast forward about a week. Donny asked me to go to the UT/OU basketball game and I agreed to go, until I found out Mema had a stroke. I went to the hospital and was able to talk to her. At that point, she was still coherent and was able to talk and answer questions. My Aunt and Mom told me I still needed to go to Austin, because all I would be doing is sitting at the hospital all weekend. So...I went.

I had already decided I was going to tell Donny before he went home that I wanted to date him again. I had seen a definite change and realized that there was no one I'd rather have by my side during difficult (and great) times. So...I prepared myself to tell him, but wanted to make sure I told him at the right time. Monday morning, Mema passed away and he was the one with me picking up my mom to take her home. He was also the one that vacuumed my aunt's whole house to prepare for visitors (without being asked). He also sat with my aunt at the hospital, waiting for my mom to take a warm shower at my apartment. All of this did NOT go unnoticed by me.

So...right before he left I told him I loved him and wanted to date him again. I also told him that this is what Mema would have wanted. When I said that, he broke down. He then told me that he and Mema had been speaking 4 to 5 times a week. She would call and check on him and make sure he was doing okay. She would also tell him she was praying every night that we were going to get back together because she knew he would take care of me. Several of the things he mentioned, he would have known no other way than if he had talked to her. My aunt later confirmed the existence of those conversations.

Mema was so special to me and I will dearly miss her. The great thing is, I know that I will be carrying out one of her wishes by marrying Donny. And yes, it is my wish too!

2009-02-10T19:42:00.003-06:00

Valentine's Gift Exchange

Thanks to Jennifer's Gift Exchange, I came home to an awesome package of goodies last week. Christy sent the following items to me:

Thank you so much Christy!! I LOVE it!

2009-01-29T16:10:00.003-06:00

Dumb Move of the Day

On Tuesday, my low gas indicator dinged. Normally I can travel 60 more miles after I hear the ding. Due to the fact we were closed yesterday because of ice, I hadn't driven anywhere since then. So...I decided to try to make it to work this morning without filling up. As I'm sure you've already guessed, I didn't make it to work. About 1/2 mile from work my car started sputtering and died. Thankfully I was in the right lane and was able to pull over. The only bad thing was that I was at an on-ramp and rush-hour traffic was in full swing. I called my friend Janie and she had a guy from work come get me. He took me to a gas station where I bought a gas can. On the way outside, a man asked if we needed gas. He said he had a full gas-can in the back of his truck. When we told him my car wasn't at the gas station he said he would follow us as long as it wasn't too far away. The very nice man followed us to my car, put gas in it, and stayed until he knew that my car was going to start. I thought that that was such a kind and thoughtful thing to do!

I have only run out of gas 1 other time in my life...in college...when I was broke. I had no excuses today.

Lesson learned.

2009-01-12T15:42:00.007-06:00

Top Braces No More....

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this.

Remember this picture?

Guess what! No more top braces. I have some stubborn bottom teeth and will have to wear my bottom braces for another 3 months. Oh well...

I've tried to post several times lately, but Blogger hasn't been letting me upload pictures.

I'll try to get caught up soon!

2009-01-07T15:07:00.004-06:00

Mexico

Thanks to my friends Yolanda and Chris, I got to spend the week after Christmas in Mexico! This was the first time that I had been to Mexico for more than just an afternoon. When I was younger, we lived really close to the border and would go to the market every once in awhile. All in all, I ended up being in Mexico for 7 days. Yolanda's family is from Zaragoza, a town about an hour past the border in Eagle Pass. Her parents have a house in the States and in Zaragoza so we were able to stay there. Here are a few pictures from our trip:

Front of the house

Zoey in front of the door

Yolanda's Godmother making homemade tamales

Me with Yolanda's Grandparents

Chris and Yolanda

Two cute little kids at our New Year's Day Party

Look at my little piece of the wishbone. I think I got the short end of the stick.

Zoey and me on the American side of the border

2008-12-18T14:54:00.004-06:00

Letter to Lefty (aka, my Isotoner glove)

Dear Lefty,

Last night, I decided to remove you and Righty so that I could easily punch in the numbers at the ATM. The one thing I forgot, however, was to put you back on. You and Righty were sitting on my lap when I decided to get out of the car, forgetting that you were there. As I walked in the apt. last night, I realized you both were missing. Part of me wanted to go back and look for you. The other part wanted to stay in the warmth of the apt. So...I forgot about you and Righty until I got in the car this afternoon. Guess what I found!! Righty...but no Lefty. In a panic, I mentioned to my friend that you were missing. What was I to do?? She quickly commented that you were probably lying on the ground, out in the cold, and had probably been run over several times. Because I could not bear the thought of abandoning you, I returned to the restaurant. As I rounded the corner, I held my breath and....there you were!!! I quickly picked you up off the ground and gently laid you on the floorboard. I promise to have you looking as good as new.

As a reminder, here's what you looked like when I picked you up...

I promise to never let it happen again.

Sincerely,
Your Owner

2008-12-18T10:18:00.001-06:00

Goodies

Since I have eaten more than my weight in goodies these last two weeks, I thought I'd share a yummy recipe...

Easy Cheese Blintzes
Must be Frozen

1 Loaf Thin-Sliced white sandwich bread, crusts removed
1 8 oz. cream cheese softened
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
5 teaspoons cinnamon

Cream egg yolk, 1/4 cup sugar, and cream cheese. Set aside. Mix cinnamon and the 1 cup of sugar. Set aside. Roll one slice of bread at a time with rolling pin until fairly flat. Spread cream cheese mixture over bread and roll jelly-roll fashion. Dip in melted butter, roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place on wax-paper lined cookie sheet and freeze. Take out of freezer 1/2 hour before cooking. Thaw 15 minutes, then cut in half. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 15 minutes. Makes about 40.

Helpful Hints:
Suggested Assembly Order:
Make cream cheese mixture.
Mix sugar and cinnamon.
Cut the crusts off all bread.
Flatten all the bread.
Spread the slices out across counter top.
Spread cream cheese on all of the flattened slices.
Roll all of the bread jelly-roll style.
Dip in butter and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.
Place on wax-paper lined cookie sheet.
Place in freezer until 1/2 hour before baking.

This helps the process go quickly and prevents your hands from getting the bread gooey with the cinnamon sugar.

This is a great recipe to make ahead of time and keep in your freezer. It is easy to take out a few or several and bake on a moment's notice for family or friends.

2008-12-11T09:08:00.003-06:00

The Shack

As I was walking through Wal-Mart the other day looking for a book to buy, I came across The Shack. I have heard several people say they loved the book and that they couldn't put it down once they started reading it. As a result, I bought it. I must admit...I'm 112 pages into the book and I'm not sure I like it. The plot seems a little slow to me and to be honest, a little strange.

For those of you that have read the book and loved it, am I missing something??

2008-12-11T07:36:00.002-06:00

Let Your Worries Go...

December 31st is the last day to vote on www.letyourworriesgo.com and help decide how The Northwestern Mutual Foundation (I work for Northwestern Mutual) will distribute $1 million to four important organizations: Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding America and YMCA.

Currently, Health and Fitness (YMCA) has been selected 35,940 times. Illness (Susan G. Komen for the Cure) has been selected 33,198 times. Natural Disasters (Habitat for Humanity) has been selected 32,803 times. And Hunger (Feeding America) has been selected 23,324 times.

Even if you already cast your worry – and therefore your vote, you can do it again. And again. You can even participate on Facebook, using the application “Let Your Worries Go Vote.” Either way, you can let your worry go as many times as you like. You’ll help the cause that addresses your biggest worry receive as large a donation as possible.

PLEASE go to this website. It's fun, humorous, and you can vote without having to enter any personal information.

If you vote, please leave a comment below. How many chances do we get to help decide where $1,000,000 will be donated?

2008-12-04T08:58:00.009-06:00

Happy Anniversary!

4 years ago today, Donny and I started dating.

Happy 4th Anniversary Donny!!

Coming Soon: Part 1:Inservice, Danny, and Lunch

2008-12-03T09:44:00.004-06:00

Birthday and Thanksgiving

I had a great birthday this year, complete with lots of time with family and friends. The weekend before my birthday I went to Donny's. He used to take me shopping for my birthday, but I love surprises and have tried to hint to him that I'd much rather be surprised with my gifts (please read...I gave him a long list of things I wanted/needed for him to choose from). So...I got to his house and my gifts were waiting on his table. He got me these CUTE shoes:

All I told him was I needed a new pair of black heels and he picked these out on his own. He also got me a new charm for my charm bracelet:
He said he chose the basketball and hoop since we were basketball coaches when we met. I thought that was really thoughtful!____________________________________________

On Thanksgiving, I worked at The Retreat. We had a Thanksgiving buffet that was fit for a king. 85 of our members and their guests attended. Here are some pictures of the buffet and the table settings (this is only a portion of the food):

2008-11-14T15:10:00.007-06:00

Central Market

Several of my coworkers and I love to eat at Central Market. It's great because everyone can get what they want and when the weather's nice, we can sit outside. We went today and I got one of my favorite meals.

My roommate, Ashley, introduced me to Philly Rolls last week. I had no idea they had cream cheese in them. Yum!! My mom's boyfriend introduced me to the Mexican Coke. It's Coke's version of the Dublin Dr. Pepper and it's made with pure cane sugar. I try not to drink regular cokes, but today I just couldn't resist.

2008-11-04T15:27:00.000-06:00

I Knew She Should Have Picked Jason!!

Bachelorette Star DeAnna Pappas Calls Off Engagement

2008-10-15T16:27:00.004-05:00

Milwaukee Take 7

Recently, I took my 7th trip to Milwaukee in two years. I had a blast the whole week, but the highlight definitely happened my last night there. 5 of us went out and returned to our hotel around 1 in the morning. For those of you who know me, that is WAY past my bedtime. As we arrived at the hotel we saw a cargo truck full of luggage being delivered. Inside, we saw three 8-foot tables with cookies and soft drinks on them. One of the guys in the group said, "Hey...I think the Brewers are staying here." At the time, the Brewers were still in the playoffs. As it turns out, the Phillies were staying there. We waited a little while to see if we could see any of them and sure enough, they started coming off of the elevator one by one. One of the guys walked by us with four suitcases. I jokingly told him I would help him with his luggage if he would take a picture with me. His response was..."No, I'm not taking a picture." Gee, thanks. They won that night too. You'd think he'd be willing to take a picture. There was no one around, in other words it wouldn't cause a frenzy of fans to want pictures and autographs.

Right after that, I decided I was tired and needed to get some rest. My room was on the 20th floor and on about the 10th floor, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Guess who got on...the same Phillies player that had denied me a picture. He started asking me where I was from and where I worked. Come to find out it was Shane Victorino.

All in all it was pretty cool to see the players and was a great end to my trip to Milwaukee.

2008-09-09T10:45:00.002-05:00

Dream

On Sunday night, I dreamed about a friend of mine and her son. I dreamed I had gone to their house and played with her son. As I was leaving, my friend said, "Don't you want to give him a hug? It's his birthday." On Monday, I woke up and decided I needed to call my friend. We hadn't spoken in a couple of months, but are always able to pick up the phone and act like we've never been apart. I tried to call her on my way home from work, but wasn't able to reach her. When she called me back I asked her when her son's birthday was. It was on Sunday. The day that I had the dream. I didn't know the exact date of her son's birthday. In my opinion, God was telling me to reach out to her in my dream. I'm so thankful I did because she has been going through trials and tribulations that I hope I never have to experience in my life. It's like something out of a movie. Please keep her in your prayers and the next time you dream about someone, call them. They just might need a listening ear.

2008-09-08T10:28:00.002-05:00

Do You Know About This?

The information below is from the Texas Comptroller's office...

Unclaimed Property

State law requires the Texas Comptroller's office to hold abandoned and unclaimed property reported by businesses and financial institutions until its owners or their legal heirs claim it. The agency attempts to find the rightful owners of unclaimed properties through annual newspaper advertising, direct mail notices and the agency's Web site.

Go here to search for your name.

2008-08-29T09:11:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday Mom!

I won't have access to a computer until after my mom's birthday (Sunday), so I wanted to say Happy Birthday a little early!

2008-08-29T09:05:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Dad!

2008-08-27T18:13:00.001-05:00

Amazing!

See Emily's original post here. Then...

Watch this video.

2008-08-27T17:47:00.005-05:00

Long OVERDUE!

I can’t believe it’s been a month and a half since my last post. Recently I have…
· Gone on my 6th trip to Milwaukee
· Gotten a new title – Technology Coach
· Moved offices
· Been to see Donny
· Started playing co-ed softball again

I realized when we got to the airport to go to Milwaukee that my cell phone was missing. I had left it in my car ,with the car unlocked, with my spare set of keys inside. Luckily one of my coworkers was able to get my phone and lock the door until I got home. I hate not having my phone, especially when I’m traveling so I went to the T-Mobile store and luckily, the man took pity on me. He had me buy a phone for $30 and told me I could return it before I went home. He was a lifesaver!

Here are some pictures from Milwaukee...

Amanda, Sarah, Me, Terry & Cliff

Me, Amanda, & Sarah

Cheeseheads

Amanda, Janie, Me, Mr. Bostick & Sarah

Amanda, Sarah, & Me

My Study Group

Rhonda, Me, Sarah, & Amanda

Miller Park (Just for you, Dad)

Sarah, Me, Rhonda, & Amanda

Amanda & Me

Up Next...Softball Stories...

2008-07-15T10:22:00.001-05:00

Note to Self...

Do not get on an elevator after donating blood due to the overwhelming sense of needing to pass out.

2008-07-10T10:11:00.003-05:00

I can't believe...

It's been well over a month since my last post. I have a lot to catch up on.

About a month ago, my grandma was going to her cardiologist appointment and was involved in a wreck. We don’t know exactly what happened because she apparently blacked out. The police report said she probably stopped at a stop sign, then continued without looking for cross-traffic. As a result, the other car was forced to hit her. Luckily, she didn’t receive a ticket, but she’s been in pretty bad pain. She broke her collar bone, is bruised down the whole left side of her body, sprained her ankle, and broke her pelvis. Home health care is taking care of her and she’s getting better everyday. Here are some pictures of her car.

After 4 years at Walnut Springs, Donny got a new job in Cuero, Texas. I am so happy for him, as he’s going from coaching at a 1A-Six-Man school to a 3A school. He’s going be the head basketball and golf coach, and an assistant football coach. Rebel, Donny’s parents and I all helped him move this weekend. While this is a very exciting move for Donny, we have decided to take a break for at least 6 months. We both want to make sure that we are meant to be married and think that this is the best way to find out. We’ve spent the last 2 years of our 3 ½ year relationship in a long-distance relationship. Before I even think about moving to Cuero, I have to make sure that there is a permanent commitment there from him. The greatest thing about Cuero is their mascot. They are the GOBBLERS! I love it. Check out their mascot!

2008-05-29T08:06:00.006-05:00

Memorial Day

Sisters

My sister Brette and my mom

Brette and her boyfriend Jarod

Above: Jarod's first cast and catch; Below: My first cast and catch

Does anyone know how to digitally make this fish look bigger?!

Riding back from the tank

2008-05-23T09:34:00.008-05:00

Prom 2008 - In Pictures

Don't you think this looks like a terrible 80s prom picture?

When I showed Donny my (new) dress he made the comment, "Isn't that your dress from last year?" When I went back and looked at pictures, here's what I found:

I think he's right...Next year I need to look for something that has color in it!

2008-05-06T15:29:00.005-05:00

Pink Armchair Designs

Check out this faboulous sight. Jenny of Pink Armchair Designs is launching her business. In order to do so, she is giving away FREE designs to a couple of lucky winners. She's also giving everyone who enters the contest $3 off a design. Go here to see how to enter the contest.

In honor of the contest, here's a poem I've written (it's cheesy, I know):

My blog is bare,

Anyone can see,

I am not a designer,

Like the amazing Jenny.

I would love to win,

This contest so fun,

And enjoy a design,

That Jenny has done.

2008-05-01T11:47:00.010-05:00

E-mail (Warning: Extremely long post)

I received the following e-mail today from my brother. I have no idea who the author is. Whether you're married, single, dating someone, or are male, or female, what are your thoughts?

IS HE THE ONE?? THE RIGHT ONE??

First we must allow our Heavenly Father to do the picking. And second,the decision for a mate must be made on a spiritual and intellectual basis before it's made on an emotional one.

'What about love? Shouldn't that be the third?' you ask. No, and I'll tell you why. 'The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?' (Jeremiah 17:9).

The heart is willful and is driven by its own agenda. It does not consider things rationally and intelligently it just loves to love! Therefore you have to point it in the right direction: 'Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life' (Proverbs 4:23)! Whenever you meet a man, you need to get clearance from God, check out his attributes, and then allow your heart to engage.

Dating exists not for mating; it exists for collecting data. I believe that the biblical design would be friendship, courtship and then marriage.

Friendship is two people walking together in agreement and accountability, learning and growing together.

Courtship follows the mutual agreement to commit to one another exclusively - it is the decisive turning toward the agreed-upon goal of the marriage altar. It is a period of laying a foundation and preparing our life together after marriage.

But dating? Well, if you do date, use the time wisely to gather these facts.

1. Check out the fabric. Is the person mate material? Does this man have an intimate relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ? Does he care what God thinks about his behavior? Is he accountable to God as well as another co-laborer in the faith? Accountability is an important factor. It is imperative to maintaining a committed relationship. Is your potential spouse a member of the same family - the family of God?

You need to have common interests and values and agree on the essentials of living day to day. You have a similar spiritual walk. You eat the same spiritual diet. You enjoy a lot of similar things. You have like interests, like goals in life, like opinions on basic life issues.

You have had like experiences in your background. Though there is some truth to the idiom that opposites attract, like-minded folks fare better together.

Furthermore, does he want to get married? If you want to be married and your dreamboat isn't interested, don't waste your time.

Remember, women fall in love and get married. Men decide to get married and then look for a wife. Note the difference in order. So if a guy says he's not looking for anything serious, take his words seriously. If he's not going in your direction, get off the bus and wait for the right one.

2. Does this man want you? Is he pursuing you? The man who is right for you will pursue you, and God's hand in the relationship will be clear. No guessing, no fleeces, no dead ends.

Scripture says: 'He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord' (Proverbs 18:22).

Note -who finds whom? THE MAN FINDS THE WIFE. From the beginning of time, God has transported men and women across the world in order to put them together.

At the RIGHT TIME, He will bring that man on the scene and he will find you. In God's perfect design, the man is the one who recognizes his mate. Adam had no problem recognizing that Eve was his missing rib. You do not need to strategically place yourself anywhere. You don't have to help a guy out because he's shy!

Men will do whatever they have to do to get what they truly want. The man in your life should recognize you as the pearl of great price in his life and be willing to do whatever he must in order to gain your hand. If he is passive about gaining your affections, take it as a sign that he is not interested.

Many a woman's mother has suggested that it is a good idea to marry a man who loves you more than you love him. As cold as that sounds, it actually might be scriptural if you stop to think about it: 'We love him because he first loved us' (1 John 4:19). Until then, take the ultimate chill pill . You don't need a bunch of men in your life to make you feel all right about yourself.

You need only one man - your man, the one God has selected to select you. And trust me, the right man at the wrong time can be just as awful as the wrong man at any time. So trust God's timing in this. He is the ultimate matchmaker. Relax, sit pretty and allow yourself to be found. Again - WAIT until the man voices his intentions. He should take the lead in establishing the relationship.

You may have an inkling that he is the one, but God will use the man to set the tone of the relationship. Allow him the opportunity to woo you - this is your first act of submission. Jesus set the standard for all men to follow. They should love us first. And they should lead the relationship.

3. The man in your life should not desire to move into your house, only into your heart . A man who prepares for your future has made hisi ntentions clear. A man who is husband material has the means to take care of a wife. He is a responsible human being who understands he needs to have something to offer. In short, a man should have the means to be a suitable lover for you.

4. Check out his buddies. Everyone knows birds of the same feather flock together, yet most women fail to see the connection between a man and his friends. A man's pals tell you a lot about the person that you haven't seen yet. They reveal things about the guy's character that might be hidden when he is on good behavior. Everyone knows how to put his best foot forward. Don't stay focused on the foot, check out the rest of the body!

5. Check out his relationship with his mother. How does he treat her? This is your preview of how he will treat you. There are lots of men who, because of a negative relationship with their mothers, really don't like women, yet say they do. Unresolved issues between mother and son continue between husband and wife.

6. Remember that a man's family reveals the cloth from which he's cut. Take note and decide whether you want your future with the man in your life to look like his present family situation.

7. Check out the patterns of his life. Do you see repeated cycles of drama in his personal kingdom? Broken relationships? Problems in making commitments --including the job market? Mood swings? Is a problem always someone else's fault? Does he embrace responsibility or shirk it? Does he keep his promises? Is he a man of good reputation? Remember all garments look wonderful hanging in the store, but with wear, some begin to unravel. Give yourself time and space to check out the man in your life. Time will always reveal whether or not he is made of the right stuff.

8. Does this man have a vision for his life? Is he running with that vision? Remember, God decided Adam needed help once Adam got busy DOING his assignment. As we saw Adam, a man doesn't need help until he is busy doing what he was created and called to do. Is the man in your life guided by sense of destiny and purpose, or does he just allow life to happen around him? A man who is not certain of his mission can be a most miserable person - and you'll be miserable too if you know where YOU want to go in life.

A man who has vision is not intimidated by a woman whose mission statement is clear. He will be your best ally, cheerleader and assistant because he wants you both to make it! A man who cannot be supportive of your achievements because he is floundering in a sea of uncertainty over his own life is not a healthy partner to have and to hold forever.

Creating dependencies or feelings of obligation is not the way to get the best out of your man. Somewhere along the way, he will resent you and flee from the smothering burden of obligation he associates you with. You want a man who is firmly anchored in his identity in Christ. Remember, we are looking for a man who will be priest and leader of his home. His first instinct should be to want to cover you, redeem you, and provide for you. Your job is to decide if this is the man God has ordained for you to complement.

9. Complimentary. Do your talents and gifts complement his? Do his gifts, compliment yours? What about your temperaments? Do you see the two of you as an effective team capable of bringing blessing to the lives of those around you? Do your futures mesh? Can you coordinate your gifts in an attractive and effective way?

This is why knowing your purpose is so important. Make sure your hearts beat for mutual causes. When I go shopping I always consider the fabric,the fit and what I already have in my closet. Will my next purchase be a complimentary addition to what I already have? If I find that I am going to have to buy shoes and matching accessories to go with a new outfit, I leave it right on the rack. It is too expensive a proposition. If the man you meet makes you feel that you need to completely reinvent yourself, something is wrong.

This is where I ask you to consider the relationship in terms of cost. Is this relationship expensive spiritually, emotional or physically? Does your longing for a mate make you willing to forfeit who you are in the process? Or does he see you as the gift that you are? The man in your life should consider you a rare find, a priceless jewel-because of you he is getting ready to get blessed big-time! Any relationship that causes you to feel unworthy, unlovely, unacceptable, undesirable or that you have to work for love, is too expensive!

God has called the man to cover, protect and provide not only materially for a woman, but emotionally and spiritually as well. You should be richer in mind, body and spirit for your union with the man of your dreams. The man in your life should make rich deposits into your heart and spirit, not withdrawals.

10. Does he have a healthy love and acceptance of himself? Make sure the man in your life has taken time to heal from past relationships and has made peace with himself. How he cares for himself is how he will care for you. A man's relationship with God is crucial here. His love for himself will only be as strong as his love for God. This is not something that you can impart. You cannot be his savior or teacher. That is out of spiritual order. In his rightful place as your personal priest, he should be leading you to a richer relationship with Christ.

If he is causing you to compromise your faith and destabilize your walk, if he is leading you into sexual sin or causing you to be distractedf rom your commitment to God, the relationship is too expensive. Offending the Lover of your soul, who promises you eternal love, is too high a fare to pay for a ride that has a limited run. If you and your man can't soar in the Spirit, when the force of your love for another is tested by the pull or gravity of the world, your union will not be able to survive.

So you decide. How much is your life worth? How much is your love worth? You will be able to accept only what you believe you deserve. God Himself calculated the worth of your love and decided it was worth His life. He now pledges you His love for eternity. Yes, Jesus sets the example for all others to follow when He paid a ransom for His bride. Should you expect less from a mortal man? Throughout the Biblical age, men were willing to pay the cost for what they truly desired. The truth of the matter is everyone knows that anything worth having, costs and no one gets a ride in this life for free.

2008-04-28T16:15:00.003-05:00

Ferrari

About a month ago, an Internet provider parked a Ferrari in our downstairs lobby. They convinced me to get in and have my picture taken. Those drivers must have some tiny rear-ends, because mine barely fit in the seat. I think that's what inspired me to start working out again. I've been walking at least 3 miles a day. Last week I 'played' tennis for the first time since junior high. Because I'm a baseball coach's daughter, I was always taught to hit the ball up (hence aiming for a homerun). When playing tennis of course, the object is to hit the ball down. With me, those two things don't mix very well. I used to play tennis with a neighbor of mine, until I got tired of having to retrieve the balls outside of the fence. Yes...I hit them outside of the fence. Consistently. All the time.

I was proud of myself last week because I only hit 2 balls over the fence in an hour. That's not to say that the rest the time the ball went where I wanted it to, but I had at least a little bit of control. I'm going to play again today. Hopefully things will go as well as they did last week. We'll see!

2008-04-16T09:11:00.002-05:00

MySpace Users...

Will you please send a friend request to my brother's band - myspace.com/cashcreekmusic? I don't use MySpace anymore, but know there are plenty of you out there.

Thanks!!

2008-04-14T16:59:00.002-05:00

Anyone Else Interested In This??
(If you live near Houston, there's a scheduled even there too)

July 12, 2008 Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

DINNER Hamburgers, hotdogs, fixings, chips, cookies and soft drinks in the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum. Lunch will be served from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

BASEBALL The Texas Rangers will play the Chicago White Sox. Game time is 6:05 p.m. Seating is in the Home Run Porch just outside the museum.

FAMILY FUN Join ACU alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the university for an evening of fun at the ballpark. ACU will have access to the air-conditioned museum during the entire game.

FREE CONCERTThe Eli Young Band will perform a free post-game concert for game attendees.

DINNER AND BASEBALL Adult packages $25 each (Retail value $34.50)Children's packages $20 each (16 and under)Children under 36 inches tall are free (must be able to walk under the turnstiles)

BASEBALL ONLY Tickets $15 each (Retail value $23)Children under 36 inches tall are free (must be able to walk under the turnstiles)
All tickets (for dinner and baseball or baseball only) will be available for pick up in the lobby of the museum at 4:30 p.m. on game day. Tickets will not be mailed

Pay up to $12 per vehicle for parking on the day of the game. Enter the stadium through the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum located on the southeast side of the ballpark between first base and center field.
In case of rain, we're still planning to meet and have a meal in the Legends of the Game Museum. If the game is called, the Rangers will issue rainchecks to attend another game.

ORDERING OPTIONSOrder online or call the Alumni Relations Office at 800-373-4220 or 325-674-2622. Tickets are available on a first-come basis. Order early to guarantee availability.Reservation deadline is July 1.

2008-04-14T10:25:00.003-05:00

New Jersey

I just got back from spending time with Kenny, Jennifer, and their precious children in New Jersey. Here are a couple of pictures from our fun week. Thanks for showing me around New Jersey! I had a great time!!

New York City Skyline(Jennifer said it was probably sacrilegious to wear a San Diego sweatshirt in the picture)

Jennifer, Kennan, and Kenny (Brayden was asleep)

The Phillies' Baseball Stadium (This is for you dad!)

The Building at Princeton where Kenny has most of his classes

The Statue of Liberty from the Jersey side

I will post some more pictures when I can. My camera decided not to work during the trip so Jennifer had to take most of the pictures.

2008-04-07T16:29:00.006-05:00

Whirlwind...

By the end of this week I will have:

Packed four different times in two weeks

Been to 3 different states

Traveled thousands of miles

Seen many of my precious friends and family

Here are some pictures from San Diego/Palm Springs last week. I went to visit Mike (my former step-dad, for those of you that don't know him) and his family.

Mike's cousin's balcony overlooking the beach in San Clemente

Outside of the Oakley Sunglass Headquarters

New shades (I was bored while Mike was in the bank)

Representing ACU at Doheny Beach

Dinner with his family at Manhattan's in Palm Springs

Mike (Palm Springs in the background)

The best breakfast I've ever had - Warm bagels with Cream Cheese, Tomatoes, and Lemon Pepper. YUM!!

In Front of the USS Midway in San Diego

With Mike's sister and her family at Downtown Disney

With Mike's Step-dad and Mom, Diane, at Manhattan's Restaurant in Palm Springs

Tomorrow, I'm off to see Kenny, Jennifer, and their precious family. New Jersey here I come!

2008-04-03T16:57:00.004-05:00

Just in Time

Read the following excerpt from today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram...

Severe storms were pounding the Wichita Falls area with golf-ball-size hail and strong winds this afternoon and moving into southern Oklahoma.

I was in Wichita Falls this morning. Thank goodness I'm not anymore!

2008-03-21T10:27:00.005-05:00

Mavs Take 2

Here are some pictures from our trip to the Mavs game last night. They lost by 4, but it was a GREAT game.

2008-03-20T13:06:00.009-05:00

Mavs, Pete's, Parking Tickets, and Green Beer

Last Friday, Donny and I were offered tickets to the Mavs vs. Pacers game. We rode the train for the first time to and from the AAC. I would highly suggest taking the train if you're able. It was only an hour train ride and it dropped us off right in front of the AAC. It also only cost $10 TOTAL for the two of us to ride. We had excellent seats in the Platinum Club that were behind bar-like tables. Donny loved it because we had rolling chairs, so he didn't have to squeeze his long legs into a little seat. The Mavs beat the Pacers (of course). It was a great game!

On Saturday, we were invited to Pete's Piano Bar. Neither of us had ever been there and we had a blast. We mainly sang along while watching other people act crazy!!

Monday, I decided to park by a coworker of mine in covered parking because it was supposed to be rainy that afternoon. At my office you have to pay for covered parking, but I figured they'd be a little leniant since it was nasty oustide. Apparently not, check this out...

That afternoon a coworker and I went to 29 Degree Tavern to have a green beer for St. Patrick's Day.
All in all, it's been a fun couple of weeks. It's been beautiful outside for the most part and...I'm going to the Mavs game AGAIN tonight. They're playing the Celtics who just ended the Houston Rockets 22 game winning streak. My sister, coworker and her friend are all going. Pictures to follow...

P.S. I fully deserved that parking violation. Guilty as charged! I will note, however, that I didn't take anyone's spot in particular. It's one that has been empty for months now.

2008-03-07T10:03:00.002-06:00

Travel Business

I have invested in an up and coming online travel service called YTB Travel. It operates exactly like a discount online travel service such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc...

However, it has some additional features such as:
Online Floral Services (just like an FTD)
Golf Packages
Concert Tickets (just like Ticketmaster)
Passports and Visa Applications
Play Tickets (just like Ticketmaster)
Attraction Tickets (such as Disneyland, Seaworld, etc...)
Limo Services
Honeymoon Registry
New and Used Car purchases
Directions
Olympic Ticket and Travel Packages for China
And More...

Please visit my website and check it out - make sure you click on the "extras" tab to see all there is available. I am happy to help you with any questions, suggestions or travel needs...although if you have booked online before you know how fast and easy it can be! Please bookmark this address: www.ytbtravel.com/CarissaSpatz

The potential benefits to you are:
Discounts on all of the above mentioned possibilities (I have booked a few things on here myself and received great discounted rates)

Easy One Page Access to a huge variety of discounted travel, items, and activities

The potential benefit for me is:
Every time you book something on my website, I get credit... so rather than Expedia or FTD or Travelocity or Ticketmaster etc. getting the credit, my business will! You will personally be helping my business!

Please feel free to forward this information to anyone you know that could benefit from discounted travel and services!

2008-03-06T16:32:00.002-06:00

My Sentiments Exactly...

2008-03-01T12:23:00.009-06:00

Another Unknown - Who I'm voting for...

But I did go to the Obama rally in Fort Worth on Thursday. I don't know enough about the candidates to make an educated decision, but decided it would probably be a once in a lifetime event for me to attend. A coworker and I left work at 5 and were on the floor, 30 feet from the stage in 30 minutes. That's not to say it wasn't packed. There was already a LONG line by the time we got there, but they decided to open some additional doors so we didn't have to wait in line at all. We decided to go to the floor (standing room only) and stand for 2 1/2 hours before he took the stage. We met some interesting people and had a great time watching everyone interact. I must say, Obama is a great speaker. He makes some great points and is appealing to all kinds of people. e ended up leaving the rally at 9, after a girl in front of us fainted from the heat. All in all, it was a great experience, and one I'm probably unlikely to experience again. Here are some pictures. Look at how close we were!

Banner above the grandstand.

Amanda and I before the rally

Addressing the crowd

Waiting for the applause to end

"If you are ready for a change..."

2008-02-29T20:14:00.003-06:00

The Unknown

Right now I feel as if there are a lot of unknowns in my life. I moved into my apartment a year and a half ago thinking I would stay in it until the day that I got married. I wasn't engaged at that point, but decided I had moved one too many times. It was going to be the last place for me. Well...that has now changed. I'm moving in two months and have no idea where I'm going. I also don't know the future of my relationship. I'm not going to post the details for the world to see, but I need your prayers. Prayers for clarity, for purpose and for direction. Prayers for healing, understanding, and hope. The only answer I'm able to give people these days is "I don't know." I am a person who likes to know what's going on and be in control of things around me. I like change, but I like to be the source of change. Right now, I'm a product of change, not the source.

2008-02-19T21:43:00.007-06:00

San Antonio

Last week, I spent Wednesday through Saturday at a conference in San Antonio. We had some wonderful meetings, spent time on the Riverwalk, toured the Alamo, and ended our stay with a night out at Polly Esther's. It's a 70s and 80s themed dance club that is packed on Friday and Saturday nights. The furniture, the drinks, and the signs on the wall are all from the 70s and 80s. It was nice to go dancing and to not have to worry about some creep trying to make their move. It was good, clean dancing, and simply having a great time. Here are some pictures from our trip...

2008-02-14T22:06:00.002-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2008-02-14T22:04:00.004-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. I'm at a Regional Meeting and won't be back until Monday. I'll have plenty of pictures when I return! Have a great weekend!

2008-02-07T13:50:00.000-06:00

Texas License Plate e-Vote

Here's your chance to vote for Texas' new license plate. The information below is from the TXDOT website, where you're also able to vote.

Over the last 30 years, designs for the state's general issue plate have ranged from a plain, white background to the flying Lone Star Flag. In January of 2009, production of the next plate will begin. Texans will have the opportunity to vote for one of four new designs or to keep the current plate.

Voting begins at noon on Monday, Feb. 4 and ends at noon on Monday, Feb. 11. View the current unofficial vote count.

2008-02-07T13:28:00.000-06:00

Sol - A Needle Pulling Thread

For the last two years, Donny and I have gone to a Super Bowl party at Pam and Rebel's. We've gotten into the habit of ordering a pie from a local restaurant and taking that as our contribution. These pies are wonderful and homemade and are known all over the country. On Sunday, two people had already eaten a piece of the pie, when a third person saw something peculiar in the middle. Here's where the title of this post comes in...a needle and thread were IN the middle of the pie. We promptly contacted the restaurant and they apologized profusely. They also mailed me a check for the pie and gave me a certificate for a free pie of my choice. I am not going to name the restaurant as I KNOW it was a complete mistake. How a needle and thread ended up in there, I'm not sure. What I am sure of, is that I will still purchase pies from there in the future. Next time I'll just make sure to cut the whole thing before serving it.

2008-02-01T11:36:00.000-06:00

Meet Zoe

Zoe is Donny's beloved chocolate lab. While she is beautiful, she and I have a love-hate relationship. When Donny and I started dating Zoe was 2. If you're familiar with labs (maybe this is the case with all breeds) they are still puppies at 2. They jump on you, they chew things, and they're not very good listeners. For the first 6 months that Donny and I dated, Zoe would jump on me if I tried to hug him. This was cute and funny at first, but after awhile, it stopped being cute and funny. I'm not small by any means, but having a 70lb. dog jump on me did not feel good. I promptly learned to put my knee to her chest and she quit jumping on me (she wasn't harmed). Zoe would also sit between us on Donny's couch (loveseat...tiny loveseat). She still does. This, too, was cute at first, but considering how little I get to see Donny, I don't want to have to share him with her. Apparently Zoe doesn't like to share either.

-----

On many occasions when Donny's out of town, I've offered to stay at his house to take care of her. Oh, I forgot to mention she's an inside dog - inside, all of the time. On one occasion I left her home alone for a little while, only to find that she chewed up my black heels. She didn't chew up any of Donny's shoes, only mine. Seeing a pattern here? She hates me. My mom has accused me of talking about Zoe like a human - like she's vindictive and knows what she's doing. You can't convince me that she doesn't.

-----

On the other hand, Zoe is a loving and lovable dog. She is extremely loyal to Donny and me and has protected me from other dogs while we were out walking. She also snuggles with me on those same weekends when Donny's out of town. After we'd been dating a couple of years, I taught Zoe how to bark when we say "speak." Before then, Zoe never barked unless I was playing with her and getting her riled up. I felt like a proud mom, seeing her child do something for the first time.

-----

All in all, Zoe is a nemesis, best friend, and protector at the same time. Who knew I'd have to fight with a dog to win over a guy? All I know, is if Donny loves her, I better love her too. I think I need to work on that!

2008-01-25T12:47:00.000-06:00

No...

This is not my house, but I wish it was. My friend, Sarah, is selling her house in Weatherford. I LOVE everything about it, including the HUGE kitchen. Check it out!

----------------

I'm finally getting to see Donny this weekend. Tonight I'm going to his game, tomorrow I'm going to his Junior High tournament and to a Tarleton basketball game. Think that's enough basketball for one weekend?

2008-01-19T13:57:00.000-06:00

Bummed

Donny was supposed to come visit today after I got off at Macy's. We were going to hang out tonight and we were excited about going to Brayden's baptism tomorrow. But...his "Check Airbag" light came on on his truck. He called a Chevy dealership and while they said it is highly unlikely that his airbag will deploy, there is still a chance. They also told him the more that he drives his truck, the riskier it gets.

We decided that we weren't willing to take that risk, so I'll have to wait to see him until next weekend - Just another day in the life of a long distance relationship!

2008-01-18T08:45:00.000-06:00

Macy's

As most of you are aware, I have been working at Macy's since August. I began the Dave Ramsey program and decided that I would get a 2nd job to help speed up the process of getting out of debt.

5 months later, I have been able to pay off 4 significant debts, but have had NO time to myself. I've worked 15 hour days, missed many of Donny's basketball games, and have neglected to keep my apartment as clean as I'd like. A lot of changes have also taken place at my full-time job. In October, our career-change recruiter left unexpectedly. As a result, I took over her duties. Fortunately, because of my willingness to do so, I have been adequately compensated, therefore allowing me to quit my job at Macy's. I put in my two weeks notice last night.

I am excited that I will once again experience what it's like to go home and do nothing. I'm more excited that I will get to see Donny on a regular basis. Until now, we've had to work our schedule around Macy's. Bless his heart, he's been so understanding throughout these last 5 months. I am so thankful to have him in my life!

2008-01-14T15:58:00.000-06:00

Weekend in a Nut Shell

9:00 Saturday Morning

-Called AAA to arrange car to be towed to AAA approved mechanic.

-Tow truck arrives and off we go.

9:30 Saturday Morning

-Arrive at said mechanic.

-Mechanic is very nice and remembers my name from our phone conversation.

-Two points for him.

10:30 Saturday Morning

-Evil Mechanic (formerly known as Mechanic) tells me my alternator is shot and it's going to cost $600 to replace it.

-Calls ensue to various people verifying that it is RIDICULOUS to be charged $600 for an alternator.

-EM (formerly known as Evil Mechanic) says, "Oh...you have AAA? It's going to be $450 in that case."

-Inform EM I will NOT be paying anything over $200 for an alternator.

-EM becomes defensive and says it's impossible to find an alternator for a 2 year old car on a Saturday.

-Not true!!

-Calls to AutoZone and O'Reilly confirm alternators cost $130 and require an hour's worth of labor at most ($70).

-Unless I'm mistaken, $130 + $70 = $200

11:00 Saturday Morning

-Mom and Mario begin calling their friends.

-Friend who owns alternator shop agrees to check the alternator and promises to only charge $35 worth of labor.

-Inform EM I will be towing my car BACK to my apt.

-Sit at home contemplating my options for the rest of the day.

5:00 Sunday Afternoon

-4th Driver from Imperial Towing arrives to pick up car.

-Ride with driver and friend to Cleburne.

-Get invited to 4th of July party and BBQ by driver.

-Drop Car off at shop.

-Watch Cowboys lose.

11:00 Monday Morning

-Shop calls.

-Alternator is fine.

-Battery is not.

-Problem solved.

11:30 Monday Morning

-Complaint is made to AAA about EM.

-Account is credited two roadside assistances.

-AAA is great.

-Imperial Towing is great.

-City Garage and EM are not.

2008-01-14T13:29:00.000-06:00

Amazing...

My roommate won a free wedding yesterday...a FREE wedding. I am so excited for her!

More to come on my car. It's too long to write right now and I'm on hold with AAA.

2008-01-11T09:05:00.000-06:00

Car Issues and Awesome Friends!

For a couple of months now, my car has been idling pretty hard, to the point where I feel like it's going to die. Well...twice in a period of two weeks, it did die - once at a stop sign and once as I was turning using a median. When my dad heard this, he of course wanted me to get it fixed ASAP. We took my car to Pep Boys on Christmas Eve so that they could do a diagnostic, hoping that it was only the battery that needed to be replaced. Sure enough it was the battery, not the alternator. The man at Pep Boys proceeded to tell me that it was going to cost $146 to replace my battery. Why, you ask? Because I have a car that requires you to remove the tire in order to replace the battery. What in the world were they thinking when designing this car?? This is also the car that requires you to unscrew the fender just to replace the headlight. Now I know at least two more things to look for when purchasing a new vehicle! My dad and I decided that $146 seemed a little (okay, a lot) high to charge for a battery replacement so we went to Wal-Mart which was right across the street. They replaced my battery for $37. I know three things as a result of this incident - 1) I will NOT be returning to Pep Boys, 2) I will continue to shop at Wal-Mart and 3) I will NOT be purchasing another Dodge.

Today, 3 weeks later, I got in my car and turned the key. It dinged for a millisecond and then completely went dead. My lights don't work (no...I didn't leave them on all night), my locks don't work, and not a sound comes out of the car when I turn the key. Thankfully I was able to get my friend Sarah to pick me up. Everyone that I've talked to said it sounds like my battery may have become detached. Thanks to Mike, I have AAA and will be contacting them to help me with my battery issues (hopefully that's all it is).

My friend Diana called me as she got to work and said she wanted to come by my office. She brought me a chicken biscuit from Chick-Fil-A and a sweet tea because she felt sorry for me. What an awesome surprise!!

2008-01-10T14:16:00.000-06:00

URGENT - Opinions Needed

I am going back and forth on whether or not to leave my hair short or grow it back out. Based on the pictures below, please leave me a comment on what you think I should do.

2008-01-09T08:01:00.000-06:00

Restylane, not Botox

I realized on my way to Donny's game yesterday that I meant to say "Who needs Restylane when you've got braces to do the trick?" Obviously I haven't had any work done or I would have figured that out sooner.

Last night was Donny's 100th Career Win as a coach. I picked up Pam and Melody and we made our way to Cranfills Gap. Pam made some awesome banners that we held up with 30 seconds left in the game. I spent the night at Pam's and was treated to coffee and a breakfast bar at 5:00 this morning. Here are some pictures from the game.

Donny in action. Why is he looking at the opposite end of the court than everyone else? Well...except for the little boy, that is!

Back Row: Mr. Hirsch, Wesley, Zach, Jacob, Derek, Matthew, Andrew, Caleb, Donny

Front Row: Tillman, Cody, Eddie, Drew

Post Game picture - Please disregard the extremely shiny face!

As I left Pam and Rebel's this morning, I heard a knocking sound coming from the left side of my car. I thought a rock had gotten stuck in my tire and decided not to worry about it. When I got to Fort Worth, I stopped at Sonic to get breakfast for the new interns. The lady that brought out my food informed me that I had a cord dangling on the outside of my door. Apparently, when I stuck my curling iron and straightener in my car this morning, I didn't get all of the cord inside the car. Amazingly enough, the cord is not damaged at all, even with it hitting the pavement as I drove. Crazy!

2008-01-08T15:25:00.000-06:00

Who Needs Botox, when you've got

braces to do the trick?

2008-01-03T09:32:00.001-06:00

Love is in the Air!

My roommate, Erin, and her boyfriend, B.J., got engaged over the holidays. They went to Colorado and B.J. proposed in the middle of a snow-filled clearing. They are planning on getting married sometime in October or November. I can't wait! Here are a few pictures of the happy couple (and the ring of course).

2007-12-27T10:26:00.000-06:00

Christmas is Over?!

After months of preparation it's hard to believe that Christmas is over. I had a great time with family and friends and am looking forward to the New Year. Donny got me something I've wanted for a very long time...a charm bracelet from James Avery. I've been asking for one for several years now. I finally sent him a link to the James Avery website hoping he'd get the hint.I thought it would be nice for him to choose charms that were special to the both of us. Plus...I told him that he now has an 'out' for every other anniversary, Christmas, etc.! I think he did a great job!

My dad and stepmom came in from Georgia for the holidays. My stepmom makes her own sugar scrub for the shower and gave each of us a bottle. It is awesome! I was able to spend most of Christmas Eve and the 26th with my dad, whom I don't get to see much during the year. He and Donny like to talk basketball and did so for most of lunch yesterday.

Today, mom and I are meeting for lunch so that we can exchange presents. I can't wait to give her her presents. I love giving people presents and have always wished that I was rich so that I could walk around and give people money during the holidays. Wouldn't that be awesome?!

2007-12-25T11:56:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas!!

2007-12-18T14:25:00.000-06:00

Birthday and Anniversary...

Donny and I celebrated our 3rd dating anniversary on the 4th of December. I knew beforehand that I was going to be in Milwaukee, so we had a romantic date at the basketball tournament the weekend before I left. We really didn't think this through when we started dating in the middle of basketball season. Those of you who are children of coaches, are related to coaches, or are coaches yourself, know that everything gets put on the back burner during the season. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining. I know the routine, but I'm thinking we should put more emphasis on our 1/2 year anniversaries in June. It's hard having my birthday in November, our anniversary, his birthday, and Christmas all in December.

_________________

Speaking of birthdays, Donny's 31st was on Sunday. We went out on Saturday night with 3 of our friends and had a blast. Here is a picture in front of the fireplace at the restaurant/bar where we ended up.

2007-12-10T16:25:00.000-06:00

I'm back!

Well, I managed to make it back from Milwaukee. The flight back was much less exciting than the flight there, thank goodness! I took a lot of pictures, but forgot my digital so I had to buy a disposable camera. Once I use up the roll I'll post more. We formed a study group of 10 people including myself. From left to right you'll find on the first row: Kristine, Heather, Lindsey, Valerie, Joanna, and Jasmine. On the second row is: Me, Christine, Alanna, and Candace. We all had a blast. On this particular night, we chose to walk about 4 blocks to a pub to have dinner. 15 degrees + walking + snow is an adventure to say the least.

I also wanted to include an awesome (yet random) picture of a pinata that my friend's mom made. She is incredibly talented! In case you can't tell, or you're not from the country, it's a John Deere tractor.

Finally, I'll leave you with a picture personifying how I felt on Friday - tired, worn out, and disgusted with people's actions during the Christmas season (at Macy's that is).

Merry Christmas!!

2007-12-02T22:15:00.001-06:00

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I arrived in Milwaukee today to find 4 inches of snow on the ground. Snow is also in the forecast for the rest of the week! It looks like a winter wonderland!

I decided to fly American Airlines (actually American Eagle) this time because Midwest was leaving too early in the morning. I'm pretty sure that that will be the last time I make that decision. I did without the comfy leather seats and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies for a tiny plane with a door that didn't work properly. That's right...we got on the plane only to find out they were unable to close the door. After having maintenance come out and unsuccessfully 'fix' the door, they had us deplane. We were told we were taking a new plane, only to find out 30 minutes later that they had fixed the old one. I was a little leery of getting back on the same plane, but thankfully the door closed and we made it safely here. While we were waiting to board again we heard an announcement that the plane going to Killeen didn't have a working lavatory. WHAT? I know the flight was probably the shortest flight known to man, but still...who flies a plane with a lavatory that isn't working? American Eagle apparently.

My mom is feeling much better and nothing appears to be seriously wrong. They think she has a hiatal hernia which can be regulated with medication. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!!

2007-11-29T12:27:00.001-06:00

Update

I'm not sure that I ever updated about my mom's surgery. The doctor was able to remove all of the cancer and as far as we know, it hasn't spread elsewhere. Though that is AMAZING news, I am requesting more prayers for her. Last week she started having some chest pain. When it persisted for 5 days, she decided it was time to go to the doctor. He told her she had esophagitis, which is an inflammation of the esophagus but can also be an indication of heart disease. With medicine, the pain has subsided, but yesterday she had her first migraine. After taking medicine for the migraine, the pain was still there this morning. Her primary care doctor told her to go to the ER to have a complete diagnostic done today. Hopefully we'll have some answers soon. This is all pretty scary, since heart disease runs in our family.

My sister also found out today that she fractured her foot a couple of weeks ago. She stubbed her foot on her iron bed in the middle of the night. She finally decided to go see a doctor and has to wear a boot for 3 to 6 weeks.

Never a dull moment around here...Wait! Didn't I just post about not having anything to post about? Maybe I should take that back.

2007-11-20T07:48:00.000-06:00

He still is, The Bachelor

Did anyone else watch The Bachelor last night? I was shocked that Brad didn't choose Jenni OR DeAnna. On the other hand, I respect him for not getting too caught up in the frenzy and proposing just to propose. Unless I'm mistaken, he never told either girl that he loved her, just that she had qualities in a wife that he was looking for. What are your theories as to why he didn't propose?

On another note, see Elizabeth Sullivan's blog. Elizabeth is the daughter of one of my coworkers and also happened to grow up with Jennifer. Read her story about meeting Brad in Austin. Crazy!

2007-11-16T14:49:00.000-06:00

100th Post

After almost two years of blogging, I am finally at my 100th post. I must admit, sometimes I feel like my life is pretty uneventful. I'm not saying that in a 'poor me' sense, but it seems as if most people I know are either married, having children, or trying to have children. Obviously, for people who are experiencing or have experienced any of those things, there is a lot to talk about. My life consists of going to work at Northwestern, going to work at Macy's, seeing Donny approximately every other weekend, and then starting the cycle all over again. As a result, I don't feel as if I have a lot to share. I know the time will come when I'll experience those things. Until then...you will have to be content in reading everything from me getting braces, to the craziness of the Christmas season at Macy's, to who knows what.

2007-11-14T13:23:00.001-06:00

Here they are...

Sorry for the extreme close-up, but I wasn't able to take a decent self-portrait. I finally got my braces put on on Monday. I will go back in January/February to add the bottom ones. Luckily I was warned by everyone that my mouth would hurt for days, so I have religiously been alternating Tylenol and Advil every 2 hours. I also ate soup on Monday night and for breakfast and lunch on Tuesday. The one thing I wasn't warned of, is that I have to relearn how to chew my food politely. I find myself smacking or eating with my mouth open because I can't get it quite right. It's humorous and gross at the same time! I feel like a little kid who has to be reminded to close my mouth and not to smack.

I surprised Donny and showed up for his first basketball game of the season last night. They won by 40 or so. It looks like this is going to be a great season for them!

Other than that, things are pretty steady around here - work, (work at Macy's or go to Donny's basketball games), sleep.

Have a great week!!

2007-11-09T07:55:00.001-06:00

I Fixed It!!

I finally figured out why my formatting bar disappeared. I won't bore you with the details, but if you ever have the same problem I can help you fix it.

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Tuesday was my 26th birthday and possibly one of the best ones yet. I was surrounded by many friends and family and ate more than I've eaten in months. Here are a few pictures of the festivities.

Brette, Mom, Me

Brette and Jared

Brette and Me

Mario, Mom, Mema, Me, Donny, Aunt Marie

Friends from work: Shannon, Tina, Me, Diana, Sarah, Natalie

Flowers from two of my coworkers.

Card from one of my coworkers. The inside says "Happy Birthday, you young whippersnapper."

2007-11-07T16:24:00.000-06:00

Okay...I wanted to post pictures from my birthday weekend, but somehow my formatting bar is missing. Can anyone tell me how to add the font options back onto blogger? Until then, it's driving me crazy that I can't make my title larger than the text in my post.

2007-11-06T14:44:00.001-06:00

Help!

I received an iPod for my birthday and can't think of a lot of songs (other than what are on my CDs) to add to it. I would love to hear everyone's input on the song or songs that make them want to dance, smile, etc.

2007-11-05T09:12:00.000-06:00

Make a slide show, scrapbook or ecard

2007-11-05T09:07:00.000-06:00

Make a slide show, scrapbook or ecard

2007-10-30T07:52:00.001-05:00

More on The Golden Compass

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305487,00.html

2007-10-29T08:41:00.000-05:00

Please Read -

The following post from a fellow ACU grad...

You may already know about the kids movie coming out in December starring Nicole Kidman. It's called The Golden Compass, and while it will be a watered down version, it is based on a series of children's books about killing God (It is the anti-Narnia). Please follow this link and then pass it on. The hope is to get a lot of kids to see the movie - which won't seem too bad - and then get the parents to buy the books for their kids for Christmas. The quotes from the author sum it all up. I hope it totally bombs because we were all paying attention!
http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

2007-10-26T15:36:00.000-05:00

For Those of You with Babies and Bumbos...

Please read this article. Over 1 Million Bumbos are being recalled.

2007-10-22T09:33:00.000-05:00

Fun Weekend!

Kenny, Jennifer, Kennan, and the newest member of the family, Brayden, are in town this week. They had a "Meet Brayden" party on Saturday afternoon. I love getting to spend time with them and can't wait until they move back to Texas next year! I stole some pictures off of Jennifer's blog. Forgive me for wearing the same shirt that I wore to the horse races.

Kennan, "Frankie," Me

Ashley, Jennifer, Me - Camp Friends

2007-10-19T16:51:00.001-05:00

Fun at the Horse Races